Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

Whiteley Hits Unbeaten Century As Seconds Close In On Victory

Whiteley Hits Unbeaten Century As Seconds Close In On Victory

Worcestershire Seconds are strongly placed going into the final day after Ross Whiteley hit an unbeaten century on the third day of the fixture with Middlesex at New Road.

The former Derbyshire all-rounder helped Worcestershire to amass 416-5 and leave Middlesex requiring a massive 502 for victory.

By the close of play they had reached 150-5 with Whiteley amongst the five different wicket-takers.

Whiteley's ton was his second for the Seconds with the other one achieved last season against Yorkshire at Stamford Bridge in the Second Eleven Trophy.

Whiteley faced 155 balls and hit four sixes and 11 fours.

There were good contributions all down the order from the Worcestershire batsmen.

Brett D'Oliveira, unbeaten on 87 overnight, fell six runs short of his hundred, caught at mid-wicket after adding 108 for the second wicket with George Rhodes (41).

Rhodes edged to slip on the same total – 187 – but then skipper Joe Leach scored 54 off 55 balls with two sixes and nine fours and dominated a stand of 88 with Whiteley.

Whiteley added 56 with Ed Barnard (15) and an unbroken 85 with first innings century maker Alex Hepburn who hit 45 not out off 37 balls.

Worcestershire picked up wickets at regular intervals and only opener Stephen Eskinazi defied them for long in making 52 not out. Adam Hose held onto two chances at third slip.

Worcestershire – second innings

Clarke run out 42

D'Oliveira c White b Sandhu 94

Rhodes c Stirling b Podmore 41

Whiteley not out 100

Leach c Eskinazi b Higgins 54

Barnard lbw Patel 15

Hepburn not out 45

Extras 25

Total (for 5 wickets declared) 416 in 96 overs.

FOW: 79, 187, 187, 275, 331.

Bowling: Podmore 1-77, Sandhu 1-44, Higgins 1-30, Patel 1-90.

Middlesex – second innings

Higgins c Whiteley b Leach 27

Eskinazi not out 52

Balbirnie c Hose b Barnard 18

Stirling c Clarke b Whiteley 3

Rayner c Hose b Russell 17

White lbw D'Oliveira 21

Lace not out 2

Extras 10

Total (for 5 wickets) 150

FOW: 38, 63, 74, 94, 146.

Bowling

Leach 11-1-49-1

Barnard 9-3-30-1

Whiteley 4-2-18-1

Russell 6-2-23-1

D'Oliveira 8-1-19-1

Rhodes 3-1-4-0