FRIENDS PROVIDENT TROPHY GROUP A, Rose Bowl
Worcestershire 320-8 beat Hampshire 267 by 53 runs (Worcs 2pts, Hants 0pts)

Moeen Ali joined Worcestershire from local rivals Warwickshire in 2006

Moeen Ali hit the biggest score of his career to inspire Worcestershire to Sunday's 53-run FP Trophy victory.

The 21-year-old seized his first chance following Graeme Hick's retirement by hammering a stunning 125 in 109 balls.

Moeen shared a 164-run fourth wicket stand with Ben Smith (70) as the visitors piled up 320-8.

Then, despite a century in reply from veteran John Crawley, the hosts were bowled out for 267, off-spinner Gareth Batty picking up 5-35.

Worcester were given a bright start by skipper Vikram Solanki (35) and Steve Davies (50), who put on 69 for the first wicket.

But after Stephen Moore had gone to a fourth ball duck, Moeen, who is still to hit a first-class century, took control,

He hit nine fours and three sixes as he topped his previous best, the rapid-fire ton he smashed as a teenager in just 49 balls at Chester Road, Kidderminster on the way to Worcestershire's Pro 40 title triumph in September 2007.

It was not a good day for all the Ali family, Worcestershire's victory being tarnished by a hamstring injury sustained by paceman Kabir, Moeen's cousin.

But Australian pace bowler Ashley Noffke should be available to come into the side later this week.

Moeen Ali told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "It was a good hundred, but it is a better one now that we have won.

"It would have been just a decent hundred and people would have forgotten about it but at least it's a winning hundred, so I am happy.

"Gareth Batty and Ian Fisher bowled very well so it was very pleasing to see those two combining straight away."

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