A CENTURY stand between Moeen Ali and Vikram Solanki helped Worcestershire to pick up their first batting bonus points of the season on day two of their LV= County Championship Division One match with Surrey at New Road.

However, having reached 199-3, the County would have been hoping to post a big score, but lost their last seven wickets for 86 runs, to end the day on 285 all out.

Openers Daryl Mitchell (31) and Michael Klinger (20) were both removed by Tim Linley (4-78) with just eight runs added to the overnight score of 58-0, before Solanki and Moeen steadied the ship.

The duo took Worcestershire past their previous highest first innings score of the season — 157 against Nottinghamshire at New Road — before Moeen brought up his half-century off 82 balls.

Seamer Jon Lewis squeezed one through Solanki’s defences to bowl him for 42, while Moeen (61) was caught by ex-Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Davies off the bowling of the impressive 19-year-old George Edwards.

Matt Pardoe saw Worcestershire to their first bonus point, but was trapped lbw for 12 shortly afterwards by another former County man, Gareth Batty.

Wickets continued to tumble as the gloom descended with Ben Scott run-out by Kevin Pietersen, Aneesh Kapil caught behind and David Lucas bowled, but they managed to help the County past the 250-mark to secure a second point.

James Cameron batted resolutely to start with, before striking some lusty blows late on. He brought up his half-century with a six and then holed out to Zander de Bruyn on the midwicket boundary for 52 to bring the day’s play to a close.