ALL-rounder Kabir Ali has got off to a great start in Worcestershire's new Player of the Month awards, sponsored by Hewett Re-cruitment.

A string of consistent performances with both bat and ball, including a match-winning seven-wicket haul against Oxford UCCE have seen him make the early running ahead of Australian paceman Andy Bichel and new signing Stephen Peters.

Bichel claimed match figures of 10-131 in the opening Frizzell County Championship win over Gloucestershire to take the honours ahead of centurion Ben Smith and skipper Graeme Hick in third place.

In the match against Oxford UCCE Kabir's seven second-innings wickets earned him maximum points with Hick and Smith both scoring hundreds to take the runners up spots once more.

Peters took the spoils for his debut century in the game against Northants while Kabir took top points in the disappointing Benson and Hedges defeat against Gloucestershire.

The Hewett Recruitment Player of the Month award is judged by members of the media who cover both the County's four-day and one-day matches.

The leading player in the match will receive five points, second three and third one point with the monthly winner being the player with the highest total.

There will be four monthly awards for April/May, June, July and August/September with the overall winner being presented with the Hewett Recruitment Player of the Year Award at the end of the season.

Tom Moody, Director of Cricket said: "It is a great boost to the club to have the backing of Hewett Recruitment for these new awards. I am sure the players will be competing hard for the awards throughout the season."

Current standings: Kabir Ali 11; Stephen Peters 5; Andy Bichel 5; Ben Smith 4; Graeme Hick 4; David Leatherdale 3; Gareth Batty 3; Steve Rhodes 1.