MOEEN Ali may have missed the chance to become the first batsman to reach 1,000 runs this season after a disappointing time against Gloucestershire.

The 26-year-old all-rounder is enjoying the best season of his career for Worcestershire and had looked well placed to break the four-figure barrier.

Going into the LV= County Championship Division Two match, Moeen had scored 953 first-class runs but only managed to add four to that tally at Cheltenham, including a first-innings duck.

That has allowed Middlesex’s Australian batsman Sam Robson to move ahead of him in the rankings on 968, while Australia’s Ashes opener Chris Rogers is on 974.

With neither Worcestershire nor Middlesex in four-day action until August because of the Friends Life t20 programme, Rogers has a chance to pass 1,000 in the second Test at Lord’s.

Moeen said: “I think it’s been my best one. I had a good season a few years ago but I think this one has been really good.”