Worcestershire set up chase for vital victory (From Worcester News)

Worcestershire set up chase for vital victory

7:31pm Thursday 25th August 2011 in Match Reports

SPIN bowler Imran Tahir took five wickets but the battle between the bottom two sides in LV= County Cham-pionship Division One moved firmly in Worcestershire’s direction at the end of the third day.

Tahir finished with 5-29 and left-arm pace bowler Chris Wood took 4-35 but Worcestershire still managed to finish with a slender first innings advantage of 29 at The Rose Bowl.

By the close this had began to look of vital importance because Hampshire ended the day only 53 ahead at a perilous 84-6 in their second innings.

Medium-pacer Gareth An-drew, who took three wickets in the Hampshire first innings, took another three in the second to leave second-from-bottom Worcestershire in with a great chance of victory.

The visitors began the third day 67 behind at 112-1 with the first 75 minutes — and 12 overs — lost to overnight rain.

Worcestershire appeared to be heading for a commanding lead at lunch when they were 135-1 with Vikram Solanki in control.

But Wood induced a collapse in which Worcester-shire lost five wickets for six runs in only four overs.

Wood dismissed James Cameron, Moeen Ali two bowls later, and then had Alexei Kervezee caught at the wicket to give him three wickets in five balls.

James Tomlinson then bowled Aneesh Kapil and Wood removed Andrew to give him figures for his spell of 4-8 in five overs.

There was a late resistance between the obdurate Sol-anki and Ben Scott who added 43 for the seventh wicket but then Tahir quickly ran through the tail.

The Pakistan-born, South Africa-qualified leg-spinner sent back Scott, Richard Jones, Kemar Roach and last man Alan Richardson as Worcestershire were all out for 204 — having lost their last nine wickets for just 69.

Only Solanki resisted, finishing with a crucial 79 not out from 156 balls — an innings which included 11 fours.

Hampshire was soon in trouble again when they batted a second time with Liam Dawson, Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie all out before the deficit had been overcome.

Worse was to follow for the bottom-placed hosts with James Vince out on 43, Sean Ervine 10 runs later and then, just before bad light brought the players in, Nic Pothas.

Andrew finished with 3-31 and there were two wickets for West Indian pace bowler Roach who is making his Worcestershire debut.