COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, New Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Worcestershire 308 & 319, Surrey 259 & 66-4
Worcs 6pts, Surrey 5pts
Match scorecard

Alexei Kervezee plays down the ground during his 144 at New Road

Alexei Kervezee's stunning 144 helped to rescue Worcestershire and set Surrey a testing final-day target at New Road.

Worcestershire were in a spot of bother on 125-5 when Kervezee was joined by first-innings hero James Cameron.

But Kervezee was well supported by all the home lower order as he passed 1,000 first first-class runs for the season to help Worcestershire reach 319.

Shakib Al Hasan then struck with three quick wickets as Surrey, chasing 369 to win, collpased to 66-4 at the close.

Youngster Tom Lancefield (35) and Arun Harinath (21) looked untroubled in reaching 57-0.

But it all changed when Shakib removed Lancefield, Stuart Meaker and Mark Ramprakash (for a second ball duck) in the space of just eight deliveries before Gareth Andrew joined in the fun by getting rid of Harinath.

Earlier, two wickets each for Chris Tremlett (in an opening spell of 8-4-4-2) and New Road old boy Gareth Batty made it a profitable morning for the visitors as Worcestershire were initially pegged back to 63-4.

But Kervezee hit 19 fours and two sixes in belting his third County Championship century of the summer to put Worcestershire on course for their fifth victory of the season.

Kervezee, who will qualify to play for England at the end of 2011, approached a tricky situation with a fearless counter-attack, although adrenaline almost got the better of good judgment when he thrust hard at the last ball before lunch.

But, having seen it fly over the slips for four, Kervezee seized control to help his side add 190 in 35 overs between lunch and tea.

The Dutchman, whose only previous hundreds both came against Derbyshire this season, was only two short of 100 in the session.

After half-century stands with Shakib (34) and Cameron (17), he then helped amass a blistering 74 from 10 overs with left-hander Andrew (34).

BBC Hereford & Worcester's Dave Bradley reports:
"A Dutchman born in Namibia and the first Bangladeshi in county cricket were the unlikely pair to turn the game Worcestershire's way.

"Kerveeze has been given a run in the team and has taken it with both hands - this was probably the best of his three hundreds in county cricket - but he needed support down the order with Cox, Cameron and Andrew offering help.

"All seemed calm in the final session until Lancefield went, and the prize wicket of Ramprakash was greeted with delight by Shakib and the New Road faithful.

"Earlier, Chris Tremlett again impressed with his opening spell - his best match figures of the season - but the Surrey attack flagged a little with Gareth Batty seeming to get into a bit of a spat with his former fans in the New Road crowd.

"Worcestershire will know they have a lot of work to do to win what has been a fascinating four-day game."

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