Jones blitz puts Worcestershire back in charge

Aug 7 2008

New Road (second day of four): Worcestershire 450-8dec, Derbyshire 278-6.

Simon Jones grabbed three wickets in ten balls to revive Worcestershire’s fortunes in their LV County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire.

The England paceman’s haul included Greg Smith and Paul Borrington, who both scored battling half-centuries as the visitors’ total reached 278 for six from 89.4 overs in reply to the hosts’ 450 for eight declared.

Smith led the way with a career-best 88 while Borrington just missed out on his second century of the season against Worcestershire by making a Championship-best 85.

In early May, Borrington scored his maiden first-class century when he hit an unbeaten 102 for Loughborough UCCE in a three-day draw with the Pears at Kidderminster.

Smith’s tally included 15 fours off 120 balls while Borrington collected 16 fours off 249 deliveries.

Derbyshire resumed on 27 without loss and soon began to benefit from a clutch of dropped catches. Chris Rogers, unbeaten on 10 overnight, added another six runs before he took advantage of a lapse by wicketkeeper Steve Davies, who fumbled a comfortable chance in the third over of the day bowled by Jones. He only prospered by a further four runs, however, before pulling paceman Matt Mason to Gareth Andrew at square-leg.

Rogers had put on 50 in 19 overs with Borrington, who was put down at first slip by Ben Smith in seamer Andrew’s first over while on 40.
Eight runs later, after losing the companionship of Dan Birch, he survived another chance, this time to Daryl Mitchell at third slip off young paceman Imran Arif.

Shortly after lunch, Borrington completed his second Championship half-century of the season with the aid of nine fours off 131 balls.

It was not long, however, before he saw Wavell Hinds fall victim to an excellent catch by Worcestershire skipper Vikram Solanki, who ran back from square-leg before holding on to the ball while sliding on his knees.

Mason was again the successful bowler in a Worcestershire attack who were having to work hard for their scalps, particularly leading wicket-taker Kabir Ali is sidelined with a stiff back.

Borrington, partnered by Smith, made the most of Kabir’s absence by going on to eclipse his previous best Championship score of 57 at Northampton last month.

Their double act finally ended, however, when Borrington, playing defensively after five and a half hours at the crease, edged to Davies off Jones in his first over back with the new ball.

Two deliveries later the Jones-Davies combination struck again to oust Rikki Clarke before the New Road pair pounced for a third time to see off Smith.