Day 4
WORCESTERSHIRE MOVE TOP OF TABLE AFTER INNINGS WIN OVER DERBYSHIRE
Spinner Saaed Ajmal marked his return to Worcestershire by helping them move to the top of Division Two of the LV = County Championship with an innings and 64 runs victory over Derbyshire at New Road.
The Pakistan star followed up his first innings haul of 4-60 with figures of 4-40 to give him a match aggregate of 8-100 from 46.3 overs as Derbyshire were bowled out for 149 in 57 overs.
He received excellent support from the pace trio of Charlie Morris, Gareth Andrew and Jack Shantry as Worcestershire followed up their 125 run win over Kent with another fine all-round performance with bat and ball.
Home skipper Daryl Mitchell declared on the overnight total of 432-9 with a first innings lead of 213.
Gareth Andrew remained unbeaten on an explosive 71 not out from 54 balls with five sixes and six fours.
It was Andrew who made the initial breakthrough in the third over of the innings with 11 on the board.
Former Worcestershire opener Stephen Moore (4) was undone by a deivery which nipped away and Mitchell held onto the chance at second slip.
Charlie Morris shared the new ball with Andrew and enjoyed his first success of the innings when Billy Godleman was trapped on the back foot and adjudged lbw for 10 to leave Derbyshire on 23-2.
The county paceman struck again in his next over in collecting the prized wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 4.
The West Indian star flicked at a ball of extra bounce and Tom Kohler-Cadmore held onto a low chance at first slip with the total 29-3.
First innings century-maker Wayne Madsen again provided stiff resistance in partnership with Chesney Hughes as Saeed and Moeen probed away.
But spinner Saeed Ajmal struck with what was the last ball before lunch when Hughes (12) pushed forward and Mitchell held the chance at slip.
Derbyshire opted for a more aggressive approach after the interval with Madsen and Wes Durston scoring several boundaries.
But Ajmal picked up two wickets in two overs to re-assert Worcestershire's position of authority.
Durston (21) edged a ball that bounced when playing back and provided Mitchell with his third catch of the innings at slip.
Then on-loan wicket-keeper Dan Hodgson (1) was trapped lbw by the Pakistan star to reduce Derbyshire to 97-6.
Former Derbyshire player Ross Whiteley was instrumental in the dismissal of David Wainwright.
Wainwright (13) played Jack Shantry backward of point but was run out attempting a second run by Whiteley's splendid return to keeper Ben Cox.
Madsen reached an excellent 50 off 135 balls with seven fours but after taking his match run tally to 164 he was dismissed for the first time in the game when on 53.
Ajmal brought about his downfall when he was adjudged lbw and then Shantry dismissed Tim Groenwald in the same manner for a duck.
Shantry mopped up the innings when Tim Groenwald (0) and Mark Footitt (4) were lbw and bowled respectively.
