RICHARD Jones produced a career-best display as Worcestershire stole the honours of the opening day of their LV County Championship derby clash against Warwickshire at New Road.

The 22-year-old seamer came into this game with only four championship wickets to his name, but he doubled that tally with an impressive performance to help bowl the visitors out for 309.

Jones was given a harsh lesson in top flight cricket last week by Somerset’s Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick, but against the Bears he showed that it was lesson learned with 4-66 in 20.1 overs.

The youngster was not offered a new deal at the end of last season and was given the winter to prove his worth and he did enough to win a summer contract.

Now after his career-best performance Jones was quick to thank director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

“A lot of other people would have shown me the door last year, but Steve gave me a chance,” Jones said.

“It was the kick-up the back-side I needed as I was nearly out of a job that I dearly love.

“I worked hard in the winter on my fitness and I have got a couple of decent hauls with the seconds.

“Last week was hard, but I feel that I got the ball in the right areas here and got my wickets.”

Worcestershire without Kabir Ali, Simon Jones, Ashley Noffke and Chris Whelan, who has been ruled out for a minimum of three weeks with his side-strain, were delighted to have got the visitors out for such a low-score given their weakened attack, but Jones was not surprised.

“People from the outside looking at our bowling may have been surprised with their score, but not in our dressing room,” Jones added.

“Matt Mason is a seasoned pro, Brad (Gareth Andrew) is a fine bowler and although Imran Arif has struggled he is a quality performer and I have always believed in my ability and I’m delighted with my career-best.”

After an intriguing first session where Warwickshire went in at lunch 107-3, Ashley Giles’ side raced away to 265-5 at tea.

But Jones and Gareth Andrew produced a stunning fight back as the remaining five wickets fell for just 33 runs in less than 13 overs.

Imran Arif picked up the opening wicket of Neil Carter, before Andrew, who finished with 3-57, removed Ian Westwood in his first over of the day and then Jones claimed his opening wicket with the dismissal of Jim Troughton.

Tim Ambrose, who was dropped on 0 by Alexei Kervezee, and Rikki Clarke provided some resistance of the visitors with a 117-run sixth-wicket stand, before Jones and Andrew wrapped up the tail in impressive fashion.

Worcestershire had reached 2-0 before rain enforced a premature end to proceedings with Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore both getting on the score sheet.