Worcestershire’s stunning victory over Yorkshire was their largest ever against the Tykes – and has put them right in the mix to remain in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship.
The County’s haul of 24 points has lifted them off the bottom of the table with the aid of Surrey’s six run success over Lancashire at the Kia Oval this afternoon.
Now only 18 points separate fourth placed Essex, the reigning champions, and bottom placed Lancashire.
Four of Worcestershire’s remaining five fixtures are against sides positioned between fourth and eighth.
It sets things up nicely for when they move across the Pennines to meet Lancashire at Southport from next Wednesday.
Worcestershire triumphed by an innings and 186 runs today at Scarborough – their biggest ever winning margin over their opponents.
It surpassed their four previous innings victory triumphs against Yorkshire of:
July 1956 – an innings and 94 runs at Kidderminster (Don Kenyon 259 in 455 minutes)
July 1963 – an innings and 57 runs at New Road (Doug Slade 6-48)
July 1974 – an innings and 83 runs at Hull (Basil D’Oliveira 227)
August 1977 – an innings and 79 runs at New Road (John Inchmore 8-58, Jim Cumbes 6-24).
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COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE
Surrey Played 9, Won 7, Lost 0, Drawn 2, Batting 27, Bowling 24, Deducted 0, Points 173
Somerset 9, 5, 1, 3, 24, 22, 0, 141
Notts 10, 4, 5, 1, 16, 28, 0, 113
Essex 9, 3, 3, 3, 11, 21, 0, 95
Hants 9, 2, 3, 4, 16, 25, 0, 93
Yorks 9, 3, 4, 2, 11, 19, 0, 88
WORCS 9, 2, 5, 2, 16, 25, 0, 83
Lancs 10, 1, 6, 3, 19, 28, 1, 77
*Thanks to Andrew Thomas, author of Pears 150, for the information on previous innings wins over Yorkshire. Pears 150 can still be purchased from the Supporters’ Association Shop on match days, priced £28.