COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road:
16 - 19 June 2009 (Play begins 1100 BST)
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Worcestershire 319-5 (Worcs 3 pts, Yorks 1pt)

Worcestershire enjoyed their most productive day's cricket of the County Championship season as they piled up 315-5 against Yorkshire at New Road.

Steven Davies led the way with an unbeaten 75 as he closes in on a second Championship century of the summer.

But there were three other home half centurions, including openers Daryl Mitchell (68) and Stephen Moore (60), who put on 104 for the first wicket.

And Moeen Ali carried on from his century earlier in the week with 55.

Davies shone with the bat on the day when the county revealed that he has been approached by Surrey.

But the 22-year-old Kidderminster boy has asked to keep his options open until his contract expires at the end of the campaign. And Davies admirably put his off-field situation to one side, top-scoring as Worcestershire skipper Vikram Solanki's decision to bat was justified.

Moore, the country's leading scorer last summer with 1451 runs, had managed just 97 in eight championship innings prior to Tuesday.

But the England Lions tourist made a welcome return to form as he and Mitchell put together their first opening century stand of 2009.

Moore celebrated his second half century of the season - made off 73 balls with nine fours - by hoisting Azeem Rafiq for a straight six. But, after making 60 off 104, he perished in the final over before lunch when trapped lbw by former England paceman Matthew Hoggard.

Solanki and Ben Smith both went cheaply before Mitchell's defiant innings ended when he was yorked by Rafiq.

He had two let-offs on 25 and 33 in a typically painstaking 164-ball knock which contained 10 boundaries.

Worcestershire were in danger of under-achieving at 173-4 but in-form Moeen Ali and Davies retrieved the position with a stand of 92 in 27 overs.

Mooen, who hit his maiden first-class century in the drawn game at Headingley in May, again looked in good touch as he followed up Sunday's ton against Sussex.

But, after reaching 50, added only five more before driving at Kruis and losing his middle stump.

That left a large responsibility on Davies to guide Worcestershire to a substantial total and, although twice dropped on 62, he was still there at the close, having struck eight fours in his 124-ball knock.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I'm really pleased as we've gone through the day losing only five wickets which I'm happy with.

"They missed a couple of chances which gives us heart. There's enough in the wicket so that when we do get out there bowling we can take the wickets we need.

"Our first hurdle tomorrow is to start again. We've got two good players at the wicket in Ashley Noffke and Steve Davies, who played a wonderful innings today."

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