WORCESTERSHIRE shot up to 12th place in the County Championship table after beating Somerset by 26 runs at New Road yesterday.

They had started the game two points adrift at the bottom but stormed to an impressive victory despite a century from Michael Burns and 58 by Rob Turner.

Afterwards New Road paceman Alamgir Sheriyar, who finished with match figures of 9-146, said: "It was a whole team effort. Everyone gets behind the bowlers and the bowlers get behind the batsman.

"If Championships were won by team spirit we would really be up. Everyone fights for each other. I can't see us going wrong at the moment."

Somerset, facing a tricky target of 316, resumed yesterday on 168-4 with battling Burns being the County's main threat on 73 not out.

After quickly losing nightwatchman Adrian Pierson, Burns found a reliable partner in Malvern-born Turner. They figured in a stand worth 54 in nine overs before Burns carved a Richard Illingworth delivery to Vikram Solanki at cover after hammering a six and 21 fours off 103 balls.

When he was out Somerset still required another 82 to win -- a challenge which on song Turner was more than prepared to take on.

He was his side's top scorer with 63 in the first innings and quickly advanced to 58 before being bowled by Phil Newport after hitting eight fours off 79 balls.

By the time he was out Somerset were 279-8 with the County starting to scent their second successive home victory.

Sheriyar made sure of that by ripping out the last two wickets to end up with figures of 5-96 to boost his impressive haul of first-class scalps to 47.

He said: "It's always good to get a few wickets, but it's a better thrill when you actually get them and win."

He also praised the efforts of Stuart Lampitt and Newport for their valuable contributions with the bat.

"Stuart is a model professional and he's always going to come through for us while Phil has always been able to bat. We are lucky to have so many batters batting all the way through."

Newport hit an undefeated 65 to enable the County to lead by 115 runs on first innings while Lampitt came up trumps in the second innings with 51 not out after his side had slipped alarmingly to 51-6.

Worcs (first inns) 308 (Newport 65no, Hick 50; Caddick 4-55).

Somerset (first inns) 193 (Turner 63; Sheriyar 5-48).

Worcs (second inns) 200 (Lampitt 51no; Caddick 4-48).

SOMERSET -- second inns

(overnight 168-4)

Burns c Solanki b Ill'worth 105

Pierson b Lampitt 5

Turner b Newport 58

Kerr lbw b Newport 11

Jarvis b Sheriyar 4

Bulbeck not out 8

Caddick c Rhodes b Sheriyar 0

Extras: 22

Total (all out) 289

Fall: 1-12, 2-23, 3-56, 4-155, 5-180, 6-264, 8-279, 9-281.

Bowling: Sheriyar 29.2-7-96-5; Newport 16-5-42-2; Liptrot 6-2-21-1; Lampitt 16-2-79-1; Leather-dale 2-0-18-0; Illingworth 8-1-17-1.