Friday, April 30th, 2021

SECONDS EARN 14 POINTS AS RAIN HAS THE FINAL SAY AT STOURPORT

Worcestershire Seconds collected 14 points from their rain-hit Second Eleven County Championship match with Lancashire Seconds at Stourport after surviving a last afternoon batting collapse.

Play was called off after 5pm with the Seconds 155 runs ahead with four second innings wickets remaining.

A total of 24.3 overs were lost on the fourth and final day to make 76.3 in total throughout the game.

Worcestershire’s points were made up of eight for a share of the spoils, four for batting and two for bowling.

Lancashire resumed on 296-6 after the loss of 43 overs to rain and bad light yesterday.

Liam Hurt completed a 53-ball half-century as the visitors reached 355-6 in the 110 overs permitted for bonus points.

James Logan picked up the first wicket of the day when Hurt (60) went lbw to end a stand of 88 with Jack Morley.

Ed Moulton (21) was run out by Xavi Clarke’s direct hit from cover to the last ball before lunch to leave Morley unbeaten on 47 out of 418-8, at which point the declaration came.

Worcestershire began their second innings with a lead of 62, and the game seemingly destined for a draw.

But the County ran into trouble after opener Ismail Mohammed (1) was run out by a direct hit from cover off Hurt.

Hartley then came on first change and was quickly amongst the wickets although he was aided by the choice of shot selection.

Josh Dell (9), Alex Milton (4), captain Ross Whiteley (4) and Clarke (30) were all bowled by the 22-year-old, and Ed Bragg (4) went lbw to Morley.

Worcestershire went into tea on 77-6 – a lead of 139 with 33 overs remaining.

But George Drissell (25 not out) and Josh Tongue (11 not out) extended their unbroken partnership to 36 before rain intervened at 4.20pm.