Worcestershire Seconds are celebrating their first Championship win of the campaign after overcoming their Durham counterparts by four wickets on the third and final day at Maiden Castle.
An unbroken seventh wicket stand of 58 in 12.4 overs by Ed Bragg and Nick Hammond saw the Seconds to victory after they had started the day in pursuit of a 166 target.
Bragg ended unbeaten on 27 from 45 balls with one six and two fours.
First innings century-maker Hammond dropped down the order because of a knee injury and needed a runner in Ollie Westbury.
But he continued his excellent run of form for the Seconds by finishing unbeaten on 30 from 38 deliveries with four boundaries.
Earlier Josh Dell and Jacques Banton had also made significant contributions with the bat to rescue the Seconds from a challenging start.
Worcestershire collect 22 points for their success – the first in the competition since last summer’s win over Derbyshire at Belper.
They had been 28-5 at one stage in the first innings and they again ran into early trouble against Luke Doneathy.
Tom Fell (2) was caught behind in the first over and in Doneathy’s next George Rhodes (6) edged to first slip.
It became 14-3 when Ollie Westbury (2) departed in similar fashion off Oliver Gibson.
Alex Milton (9) and Banton added 28 before the former was lbw to Gareth Harte.
The first substantial stand of the innings came between Banton and Dell who put on 62 to take the total past the 100 mark.
Worcestershire looked well placed at 104-4 but the day took another twist with two wickets falling in quick succession.
Doneathy returned to account for Banton at first slip for 45 off 59 balls with five fours and in his next over Dell (38 off 82 deliveries, three boundaries) was caught behind.
But then came the decisive contribution from Bragg and Hammond.
*The two counties are in double T20 action tomorrow (Thursday) at Burnopfield CC.
