Skipper leads by example at Surrey

Neither Solanki nor Moeen had come into this match at Whitgift School in Croydon in great form, the latter had only scored nine runs in four innings, but their 223-run partnership could not have come at a better time.

The New Road side had finally dismissed their hosts for 493 in the opening hour of the second day but Surrey quickly made in-roads to the Worcestershire batting.

Vice-captain Daryl Mitchell was trapped LBW by Andre Nel in the opening over of the County’s innings and Phil Jaques was caught behind by Steve Davies off Iftikhar Anjum in the fourth over to leave Worcestershire 0-2.

But Solanki and Moeen managed to steer the New Road side through to lunch without any further loss at 9-2 before the pair both went on to record fine centuries.

The skipper was first to reach three figures off 153 balls hitting 15 fours and two sixes but he was bowled for 114 (174 balls, 14 fours and four sixes) by Nel with Moeen still on 99.

The 22-year-old batsman grabbed a single off former Worcestershire spinner Gareth Batty to bring up his third first-class century off 180 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.

The County closed on 262-3, trailing by 231, with Moeen unbeaten on 122 and Alexei Kervezee 16 not out.

Earlier in the day, Davies managed to add a further 18 runs to his overnight score of 119 before Moeen had him caught in the deep by Alan Richardson as Surrey went from 415-6 to 493 all out.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire player-bowling coach Matt Mason is to be sent for another scan on a rib injury after the initial one proved inconclusive.