LUNCH REPORT WORCS V SURREY DAY ONE
Moeen Ali hit a sparkling half century but Worcestershire lost five wickets for 132 by lunch on the opening day of the LV = County Championship clash with Surrey at New Road.
Worcestershire elected to bat on a gloriously sunny morning and skipper Daryl Mitchell (0) was dismissed to the fourth ball of the innings from Jade Dernbach when he edged to Rory Burns at second slip.
Moeen was greeted with warm applause on his way to the wicket for his first county appearance since the end of June because of his England commitments.
He was quickly into his drive with three boundaries in an over from Matthew Dunn who this week signed a new three year contract.
Richard Oliver had a life when he was dropped at third slip by Zafar Ansari off Dernbach.
The former Shropshire captain cut Dernbach for four to bring up the 50 in only the ninth over.
But on 23 Oliver mistimed a pull at Dernbach and Gareth Batty held onto the catch at deep mid-wicket.
It became 70-3 when Tom Fell (0) was trapped lbw by Dunn.
Moeen continued to look impressive and he twice straight drove Dunn to the ropes.
He reached his 50 out of 95-3 off 71 balls with nine boundaries but in the same over was bowled by Dunn for 54.
The 100 came up in the 21st over but just before lunch Alexei Kervezee (18) was caught behind to give Dunn his third wicket.