Smith knock keeps County in the match

7:46pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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WORCESTERSHIRE’S under-strength bowling attack will have to conjure up early wickets today if the County are to force their way into a winning position in the LV County Championship Division Two clash with Essex.

A slow Colchester pitch and outfield made run gathering far from easy yesterday as Steve Rhodes’ men narrowly failed to establish a first-innings lead.

Replying to a total of 282, the visitors were bowled out for 258, with Ben Smith and Gareth Batty the main contributors.

Arriving after Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore had departed in successive overs with only 17 on the board, Smith revived the innings with a fluent knock of 74.

He reached his half-century from 71 balls with the help of 10 fours, but was dismissed with the last ball before tea.

It needed a fine reflex catch by Varun Chopra at short-leg to see the back of him and provide off-spinner James Middlebrook with success.

After Smith’s removal it was left to Batty to guide the County to their two batting points. He struck 60 from 103 balls before he was last out — caught behind by James Foster off Graham Napier.

Batty’s chief support came from Gareth Andrew, who contributed 21 out of an eighth wicket stand of 48 before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Grant Flower.

But the best partnership of the innings featured Smith and Graeme Hick, which produced 57 before Hick was caught at backward point by Chopra after making 34.

By the close, the home side had scored 10 without loss in their second innings.

The day had started with Essex adding a further 13 runs after resuming on 269-9.

The final wicket, that of Danish Kaneria, was claimed by Kabir Ali, who finished with 6-83, leaving Ryan ten Doeschate stranded on 94.

Meanwhile, Essex’s promotion hopes received a huge setback as Kaneria broke his spinning finger during Worcestershire’s innings.

The extent of the injury was revealed following a hospital visit and he will now require an operation — which could keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.