Worcestershire strengthened their grip on second place in Division Two of the LV=Insurance County Championship as they defeated promotion rivals Glamorgan by 80 runs at New Road.
Their fifth victory of the campaign was wrapped up with more than a day to spare as they inflicted upon their opponents a first Championship setback of the summer.
Dutch international Logan van Beek completed an excellent all-round game with another four wickets to take his tally to eight in the game after his first innings half century.
But all members of their four-pronged seam attack again bowled with great discipline and skill on a wicket which still offered them sufficient encouragement as Glamorgan were dismissed for 179.
Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira’s first innings knock of 74 not out was also a crucial contribution on his return from injury.
Worcestershire were also able to overcome a second innings collapse of nine wickets for 64 runs to collect 20 points from the game – three for bowling, one for batting and 16 for the victory.
They are now 31 points ahead of Glamorgan in the battle for the second promotion spot behind Durham who are their next opponents in two week’s time at New Road on September 19.
Leicestershire have emerged as their closest challengers after their win over Gloucestershire leaves them 24 points behind but with a game in hand.
Worcestershire resumed on 127 for eight and Club captain Brett D’Oliveira (11) was caught low down at second slip, cutting at James Harris, and last man Dillon Pennington (2) fell to a one handed return catch by Jamie McIlroy (5-34).
Pennington and Joe Leach shared the new ball and the latter quickly claimed his 44thwicket of the season when Ed Byrom was lbw to a delivery swinging into him.
Former Worcestershire Academy player Zain Ul Hassan was put down at mid wicket off van Beek but it did not prove a costly miss as three wickets fell for seven runs.
Colin Ingram drove at the Netherlands international and for the second time in the game perished to Jake Libby at third slip
Ul Hassan played down the wrong line and was bowled by on loan Essex all-rounder Ben Allison from a ball angled in.
It became 37 for four when Kiran Carlson went lbw to van Beek to another delivery swinging into his pads.
Much responsibility now rested on the shoulders of Sam Northeast and Billy Root and they added 48 in 11 overs as Leach and Pennington returned for a post lunch burst.
As if often the case, it was Leach who made the crucial breakthrough when Northeast was pouched down low down at first slip by Adam Hose.
He waited to check with the square leg umpire that the ball had carried before departing.
Root played with plenty of aggression and completed a 53 ball half century when he square drove van Beek for his 10th boundary.
But Allison came back into the attack and accounted for Chris Cooke who looked to work the ball on the leg side but only edged to Libby who dived forward from third slip to take the catch.
Ben Kellaway collected a pair when he tried in vain to kick a delivery from van Beek away from his stumps after it had spun back.
Pennington gained some deserved reward for his efforts when Jack Haynes held onto a sharp catch at second slip to dismiss James Harris.
Worcestershire moved to within one wicket of victory when Hose snaffled van der Gugten at first slip off the persevering Leach.
It was all over when van Beek bowled McIlroy to leave Root unbeaten on 84 and the team left the field to a standing ovation from delighted members.
