COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Worcestershire 334 and 176-5, Nottinghamshire 219 (Worcs 6pts, Notts 4pts)
25-28 August 2009

Imran Arif has only claimed five wickets in an innings once before

Pace bowler Imran Arif took a season's best 5-93 as Division One strugglers Worcestershire enjoyed one of their best days of a troubled summer.

Nottinghamshire were bowled for 219 at New Road, after which the home side built on their rare first-innings lead.

By the close, having initially slumped to 34-4, they had recovered to 176-5, thanks to a 142-run stand between Moeen Ali (59no) and Steven Davies (76).

That gave Steve Rhodes' men an overall lead of 291 going into the final day.

While the former Bradford League bowler took five wickets in an innings for the second time in his fledgling county career, Jack Shantry, younger brother of Glamorgan's Adam, claimed 2-53 on his Championship debut.

Their title hopes having already faded badly after seven matches without a win, Nottinghamshire's batsmen came up short on a seam-friendly surface on a day when 12 wickets fell before tea.

When Worcestershire batted again, there seemed a danger that they might undo all the good work of their inexperienced attack when Andre Adams responded with a spell of three for 17.

It was a position which worsened straight after tea when Charlie Shreck flattened Ben Smith's middle stump.

Moeen made the most of two escapes in the slips but he and Surrey-bound Davies turned things.

And, although Davies was caught at square-leg in the final over, having secured a first-innings lead for only the second time this season, bottom club Worcestershire are already scenting their first win of the summer.

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