Ben Allison’s superb individual effort of 89 was not enough to inspire his side to a record run-chase as Worcestershire fell to a 141-run defeat on the fourth day of the Rothesay County Championship clash against Middlesex at New Road.
The nightwatchman showed great composure on his way to a highest first-class score, keeping his team well in the contest on an excellent morning that saw the Pears stay alive in their attempt to chase 358.
When he fell for 89, the Pears middle-order were spun out by a superb Zafar Gohar spell that left Worcestershire 200 runs adrift with just four wickets in hand.
With their backs against the wall, the Pears tail attempted to salvage an unlikely draw, but it was to no avail as the home side fell to defeat late on the fourth day.
Well and truly up against it at the start of day four, it was night watcher Ben Allison who threw caution to the wind in a positive cameo early on as the sun peeped through the clouds at New Road.
Allison, showed superb temperament, latching onto the short ball offered up by the Middlesex seam attack with some dismissive blows through midwicket, as he and partner Roderick registered their fifty partnership on the stroke of midday.
Whilst Roderick continued on with patience, belief inside the Pears camp began to grow, as Allsion brought up crucial half-century from just 61 balls with a punch through the off side.
In what was the seamer’s fifth half-century of his first-class career, it was arguably proving to be his most valuable yet in Worcestershire colours, with the 26-year-old plunging eight fours and two sixes in a confident and assured innings.
The momentum was firmly with the home side, with the third wicket partnership taking their side to within 250 runs of their target as Allison moved into the 60’s and the visitors’ bowlers struggled to find a foothold.
Roderick faced over 100 balls for his diligent 20, but the pivotal moment came 15 minutes before the interval when Worcestershire’s number three was given out LBW from an Ethan Bosch delivery, as the Pears reached the interval 135-3, trailing by 227.
Ben Allison ended the session not-out on a career-best 81, with skipper Brett D’Oliveira four not-out at the other end.
Worcestershire’s highest ever run chase to win a game was 449-9, against Somerset, back in 1996, and hopes were high when the pair returned to the middle to resume their partnership that another record could be broken.
The pressure of the chase soon told, however, as the home side saw their middle-order ripped out with four wickets falling for just 24 runs to flip the contest on it’s head.
Zafar Gohar, who had proved difficult to navigate on a deteriorating surface all match, started by removing the skipper for four when D’Oliveira edged to Tom Helm at first slip.
The spinner drove a dagger into Worcestershire hearts moments later when he ended Allison’s fine riposte, 11 runs shy of a maiden first class century, as the Worcestershire man attempted a paddle sweep, only to miss and see the ball careered into leg-stump.
Leaving to a standing ovation, Allison departed having produced an inspiring knock, facing 124 balls and scoring 18 boundaries in the process of giving his side a fighting chance at New Road.
Five balls later and the home side’s uphill task became that much more difficult when Sebastian Morgan angled one back at Matthew Waite, beating the batter between bat and pad as the ball crashed into his middle stump helping the visitors regain control, still ahead by over 200 runs.
A seventh wicket and third in the session for Gohar felt decisive, as the spinner-built pressure, with men around the bat watching Caleb Falconer take a straightforward catch at square leg after a mistimed sweep shot reduced the hosts to 155-7.
Henry Cullen showed excellent maturity on his second innings in first class cricket, as he and Tom Taylor came together to try and salvage a draw for the Pears, steering their side through to tea 191-7.
Still trailing by 166 when the players re-emerged, Gohar completed his fifer when he caught the edge of the Worcestershire debutant’s bat to provide a chance for Helm at first slip, who took a sensational reaction catch to remove Cullen for an encouraging 90-ball-21.
His partner, Taylor, who had occupied the crease for over two hours, stood firm, but when Beyers Swanepoel was out first ball in the same fashion, Worcestershire feared the inevitable.
Harry Darley fought valiantly for 18 balls, but he was the last man out shortly before 5pm, as the hosts were consigned to a 141-run defeat.
