Wednesday, April 13th, 2022

SECONDS SEAL INNINGS WIN IN CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER WITH A DAY TO SPARE

Worcestershire Seconds overcame Gloucestershire by an innings and 69 runs with a day to spare to launch their Second Eleven Championship campaign in impressive style at Kidderminster.

Gloucestershire were bowled out for 95 in their first innings and today were dismissed for 156 after following on 225 runs in arrears.

The Worcestershire seam and pace attack again proved too difficult for the visitors to handle and Gloucestershire were dismissed twice in a combined total of 95.4 overs.

Worcestershire were rewarded with 22 points for their efforts, three for batting, three for bowling and 16 for an impressive victory.

All-rounder Reeve Evitts picked up three more wickets to give him a match analysis of 16.4-5-41-7, but Ben Gibbon and Mitchell Stanley (four wickets), Adam Finch (three) and Cameron Jones (two) also played their part.

Gloucestershire resumed on 8-0 and the Worcestershire bowlers continued where they left off and were soon back amongst the wickets despite a stream of interruptions because of bad light and rain.

Stanley was first to strike when Ollie Price (9) pushed forward and was lbw with 25 on the board.

Evitts then struck twice in the space of four balls.

Ian Cockbain (9) picked out Jones at square leg, and then Gloucestershire captain Jack Taylor (0) departed to a similar shot to the same Jones-Evitts combination
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Opener George Scott and Ben Wells provided the first real resistance during a half-century stand.

But then Finch made a double breakthrough in the space of three overs.
Scott (50) went lbw, and Will Naish (6) also went leg before after being unable to deal with another full-length delivery.

When Stanley returned to the attack, he quickly accounted for Tom Boorman (4), who was bowled.

The fourth interruption of the day delayed proceedings after tea until 5.15pm, but wickets continued to tumble when the players returned.

Left arm Gibbon knocked out the off stump of Ben Wells (40) and also bowled Will Hope (1), while in between Luke Charlesworth (4) had his stumps shattered by Jones.

Evitts completed the victory when Ahmed Syed (16) gave Jones his third catch of the day at square leg.