Day 2
AJMAL STARTS SECOND SPELL AT COUNTY WITH FOUR WICKET HAUL AT NEW ROAD
Saeed Ajmal launched his second spell with Worcestershire by claiming four wickets on the second day of the LV County Championship encounter with Derbyshire at New Road.
The Pakistan star began his three month spell with the county by finishing with 4-60 from 26.3 overs.
But he received excellent support from Gareth Andrew, who took his wicket tally to 12 in four innings with 3-46, and fellow new ball bowler Charlie Morris (3-61).
Worcestershire claimed maximum bowling points for the third successive match as Derbyshire were dismissed for 219 in 81.3 overs.
Then openers, skipper Daryl Mitchell and Matt Pardoe, safely negotiated 16 overs in reaching 31-0.
Derbyshire were indebted to an unbeaten 111 from skipper Wayne Madsen whose 244 ball knock contained 14 fours.
Andrew struck a vital blow five minutes before lunch after Derbyshire had resumed on 3-2 from 3.5 overs.
The 30-year-old trapped West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw for 32 to end a stand of 75 in 31 overs with Madsen.
It was the first time that Chanderpaul has been dismissed for less than 50 during the current campaign and he had been averaging 100 until Andrew brought about his downfall.
Andrew also made the first breakthrough of the afternoon session after Derbyshire resumed on 78-4.
The Arctic Spas sponsored paceman trapped Chesney Hughes lbw for nought with the fifth delivery of the afternoon.
Then Ajmal showed his quality in claiming two wickets in two balls.
First Wes Durston (2) pushed forward and was snapped up at short leg by ex Derbyshire player Ross Whiteley.
It became 83-6 when Derbyshire wicket-keeper Dan Hodgson, who is on loan from Yorkshire, was adjudged lbw after playing back to his first ball. Derbyshire had then lost four wickets for five runs in 43 balls.
Mitchell gave a break to Ajmal after an impressive spell of 15-4-31-2 and brought back Morris – and the move paid instant dividends.
David Wainwright (10) was trapped on the crease lbw after adding 38 with Madsen.
Ajmal switched to the New Road End and again the move paid off immediately with Tony Palladino (11) caught sweeping low down at square leg by Morris with the total on 136.
Madsen and Tim Groenwald (15) added 56 in 19 overs for the ninth wicket before the latter fended a short ball from Morris into the hands of Matt Pardoe at forward short leg.
Madsen reached a deserved 100 before Ajmal polished off the innings as Mark Footitt (17) fell to a fine catch from Alexei Kervezee running back from extra cover.
