Worcestershire Seconds are celebrating their first victory of the season in the Second Eleven Championship after a splendid fightback with bat and ball earned them a 193-run victory over Derbyshire at Repton School.
Kashif Ali’s second innings century and skipper Pat Brown’s seven wickets played a key part in victory being wrapped up with two sessions to spare.
But there were plenty of other important contributions in helping Worcestershire turn the tables after being bowled out for 150 in their first innings and then seeing Derbyshire reach 116-1 shortly before the first day’s close.
Opener Rehaan Edavalath batted responsibly for nearly three-and-a-half hours for his first innings 41 before he was eighth out at 110.
He added 53 for the fourth wicket with Ben Cox (34) before Adam Finch (41 off 32 balls) gave the innings late impetus.
Derbyshire made a good start to their reply, but then spinner Josh Baker broke a second wicket stand of 102 before a deadly burst of three wickets in eight balls by Brown before the close of play.
He struck again at the start of day two to finish with 4-47 and received good support from Adam Sylvester (3-32) and Adam Finch (2-31) as Derbyshire lost their last nine wickets for 58 runs and were dismissed for 174.
When Worcestershire batted again, Taylor Cornall shared in stands of 78 with Edavalath (37) and Kashif (83) before he was second out at 161.
His 179-ball knock lasted nearly four hours and contained seven fours.
Kashif then took centre stage as he continued the form which had brought him 89 against Lancashire Seconds at Kidderminster in the previous game.
He ended day two unbeaten on 86 not out and went onto complete a 148-ball century with two sixes and 15 fours.
After his dismissal for 104, Henry Cullen (34), Baker (35) and triallist Ollie Sutton (45), a product of the men’s open trials held at New Road, ensured Worcestershire reached a formidable 424 all out from 126.3 overs.
Derbyshire were left a 401 target, and Brown and Finch made a breakthrough with the new ball to reduce them to 12-2.
The home side recovered to 127-3 by the close of day three, but Worcestershire quickly wrapped up proceedings.
Finch made the first breakthrough with only six runs added, and then Sutton (3-57) and Brown (3-48) sealed the victory.
Brown finished with match figures of 36.5-7-95-7 and Finch 33-9-67-5.
