Moore putting his club first (From Worcester News)

Moore putting his club first

7:00pm Sunday 5th July 2009 in

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STEPHEN Moore is hoping his success with the England Lions against Australia will help him kick-start his campaign.

The Worcestershire opener hit 120 in the first innings of the game that petered out to a draw at New Road and, following on from two half-centuries against Yorkshire, last season’s leading first-class run-scorer is aiming to fire the County to safety.

“I can take a lot of confidence from this match,” Moore said. “Playing against the best side in the world and some of the quickest bowlers there are in international cricket, to get a hundred was brilliant.

“But it was also a platform for the rest of the season.”

The 28-year-old was unable to follow up his first-innings century after being caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting for 16 off Mitchell Johnson.

The final day of the match saw Australia’s Marcus North hit an unbeaten 191 before the tourists declared at lunch on 438-4.

Johnson first removed Moore as the Lions were set a target of 445 in 60 overs before having Joe Denly caught behind by Brad Haddin.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz picked up the wicket of Ian Bell before Brett Lee, who took six wickets in the first innings, sent Vikram Solanki’s leg stumping flying with a superb in-swinger yorker.

Eoin Morgan and Steve Davies saw the Lions to a close with some tidy batting.

But the draw at New Road had a dramatic finish when umpire Jeff Evans collapsed on the field and needed medical attention, prompting the match to be called off.

Evans was suffering from dehydration and an England spokesman later confirmed the 54-year-old was fully recovered. Moore believes County team-mate Davies kept himself at the forefront of the England selectors’ minds with his performance at New Road.

“Davo had a great match,” the South African-born batsman said.

“He showed his class with the bat, getting a 50 in the first innings and stuck to it in the second with a nice little not out and he was tidy behind the stumps.

“I know Davo is ambitious and wants to play for England. I know the selectors keep looking at him and that he is in the frame by playing in matches like this.

“Can I play for England this summer? I’m not sure about that, I’m not focusing on that.

“I have fallen foul of that in the past. My focus now is Worcestershire, it was nice to be involved and I haven’t done myself any harm.

“Anything that comes will be off the back of doing well for Worcestershire so that is my focus.”