COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Warwickshire 443, Worcestershire 154 and 123-3(Warwicks 8pts, Worcs 3pts)
2-5 September 2009

Chris Woakes took a season's best 6-43 against the West Indies back in May

Young Warwickshire paceman Chris Woakes took seven wickets in the day as he bowled his side to the brink of a local derby victory over Worcestershire.

The highly-rated 20-year-old helped the Bears' survival hopes with his best Championship figures of 2009, taking 5-40 to bowl out Worcester for 154.

He then claimed another couple of scalps inside three balls as the visitors, following on, ended on 123-3.

Doomed bottom club Worcestershire will start the final day 166 runs adrift.

Relegation-threatened Warwickshire are now on course to secure a vital win after asking their old rivals to follow on.

The Bears have won just once this season to hover above the relegation zone, but will now fancy their chances of securing a well-timed victory - if the weather stays dry.

Woakes, who took 6-43 for the England Lions against the touring West Indians back in May, bowled with control and movement that preyed on the uncertainty of a Worcestershire side who have mustered only 21 batting points this season - the lowest in the two divisions.

At least half of the batsmen contributed to their own dismissals, starting with a mix-up between the openers in Boyd Rankin's first over of the day.

Stephen Moore played the ball to Sreesanth at mid-on and set off for a run, but was left stranded when Daryl Mitchell stayed in his crease.

The real problems began when Mitchell (30), wafting at Woakes' fifth ball, was caught behind by Tim Ambrose.

The seamer then produced a beauty to bowl Ben Smith and, in his fifth over, Bears old boy Moeen Ali steered to third slip.

Woakes then made Steven Davies his fourth victim before lunch with another catch by Bell. And another fine delivery brought his fifth wicket in 40 balls when Vikram Solanki was lbw soon after the resumption for 27.

Worcestershire were 97-7 when Gareth Andrew edged Sreesanth to Ambrose. But the Bears' first noticeable lapse - Tony Frost dropping a low chance in the slips - briefly relieved the pressure as Richard Jones (24) and Alexei Kervezee (33) shared in the highest partnership of 45.

That resistance quickly ended with two wickets for Naqaash Tahir.

Stuck in again, Moore tried to atoned by launching the second innings with 10 fours in reaching 50 from 64 balls.

But Worcestershire were soon wobbling again when Woakes had Mitchell caught at second slip.

Two balls later, Moore carved Rankin to Bell at third man. And in Woakes' next over, Jim Troughton did well at point to hold a chance from Smith.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version