Moeen has 1,000 runs within grasp (From Worcester News)

Moeen has 1,000 runs within grasp

6:00pm Tuesday 24th August 2010 in

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MOEEN Ali heads to Northamptonshire tomorrow (11am) looking to become the third Worcestershire batsman to pass 1,000 runs for the season.

The 23-year-old bounced back to form with a sizzling innings of 121 against Glamorgan to help the County to their first win in the Clydesdale Bank 40 this season.

But now the destructive batsman is hoping he can take that form into LV= County Championship Division Two.

Having scored 912 runs for the campaign in the four-day format, Moeen has stuttered after a fine start.

But, should the youngster reach the landmark this week, he will join captain Daryl Mitchell and Alexei Kervezee in passing 1,000 runs.

To have three batsmen reaching the milestone will be a remarkable feat as only Division One title-chasers Yorkshire have three players — Jacques Rudolph, Adam Lyth and Anthony McGrath — who have gone past 1,000 runs this season.

“I have had quite a good year and I don’t want to have a bad end to it,” Moeen said.

“I haven’t really scored for the last couple of Championship games. I’ve had a couple of bad decisions and a couple caught down leg-side.

“Hopefully, the Glamorgan match has got my rhythm going again.”

Moeen has also hailed the impact Bangladesh vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan has had since arriving at New Road.

The world’s number one all-rounder in one-day internationals has taken 24 championship wickets in five matches with his slow left-arm spin, including his 6-42 in the Surrey victory last week.

“He is a very good player,” Moeen said. “The lads like him a lot. He’s a good batter, bowler and fielder — you can see why he is the world number one one-day all-rounder.

“He is a great person to have around and hopefully we will be able to have him back next season if Bangladesh aren’t that busy.”

Worcestershire head to Wantage Road on the back of their comprehensive 238-run success over Surrey.

That win moved them into fourth place in the table, 18 points behind second-placed Glamorgan. The Welsh county head to table-toppers Sussex on Friday and the County will be keen to close the gap on the leaders.

Seamer Alan Richardson is in line for a return against Northants after missing out during the Surrey success.

The 35-year-old is six wickets away from taking 50 in his first season with Worcestershire after making the switch from Middlesex.

Captain Mitchell will be looking to maintain a fine start to his new job after two wins last week.

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell (capt), Wheeldon, Solanki, Moeen, Kervezee, Shakib, Cameron, Cox (wkt), Mason, Shantry, Richardson, Andrew.