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Daryl Mitchell sets the standard as Worcestershire break Championship drought

Daryl Mitchell of Worcestershire batting Getty Images

Worcestershire 205 (Hogan 4-53) and 299 (Mitchell 139, Rutherford 52) beat Glamorgan 193 (Morris 5-73) and 156 by 155 runs

Worcestershire are celebrating their first Specsavers County Championship win since mid May after a century from Daryl Mitchell and some fine pace bowling - mixed with some poor shot selection -- earned them a 155-run success over Glamorgan at Blackfinch New Road.

Mitchell struck an excellent 139 spanning six hours and the veteran opener formed the bedrock of Worcestershire's second innings total of 299 all out.

Glamorgan were left a target of 312 and Joe Leach, Ed Barnard, Charlie Morris and Moeen Ali worked their way through their batting line-up in double quick time as they were dismissed for 156 in 38.2 overs.

It was Worcestershire's first win in 10 Championship matches after a season of disappointment in red-ball cricket in which they had one of the pre-season promotion favourites.

But defeat dealt another serious blow to Glamorgan's hopes of securing a first promotion for 15 years. It was their third heavy setback in a row after going under by innings and 150 runs to Lancashire and 256 runs to Middlesex.

Leach immediately put Glamorgan on the back foot when they began their reply. Nick Selman (0) edged the second ball of the innings to Mitchell at second slip and Nick Cullen (5) pushed forward and was bowled.

In between Cullen had also been involved in a mix-up with Brathwaite (0) which resulted in the latter being run out by Barnard's direct hit from cover with both batsmen stranded at the non-striker's end.

Barnard came into the attack and accounted for Lloyd (29) after he looked to turn him on the on-side and lost his leg bail. Then Samit Patel (7) played a similar shot against the England Lions player and was lbw.

Morris followed up his five wickets in the first innings with two wickets in an over as Billy Root (26) drove loosely to Barnard at point - a chance held at the second attempt - and Ruaidhri Smith (4) went lbw.

It became 128 for 8 when Timm van der Gugten (13) attempted a pull against Adam Finch and skied a chance to Moeen Ali at mid-wicket and then the England all-rounder bowled Chris Cooke (45) after he went for a drive. Moeen ended proceedings when Lukas Carey (12) was pouched on the mid wicket boundary.

Earlier Mitchell had ended a lean spell with the bat by completing his second Championship century of the campaign. His only other Championship hundred of the summer had been achieved in his very first innings of 2019 against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.

Worcestershire resumed on 153 for 2 and Mitchell and Jack Haynes (31) extended their partnership to 69 in 34 overs before the latter tried to sweep Patel and was lbw.

Patel struck again with a delivery which popped on Alex Milton (5) with keeper Cooke grabbing the chance at the second attempt. Riki Wessels then made a quickfire 32 before he was trapped lbw by Michael Hogan who collected another scalp when keeper Ben Cox (0) was caught behind.

Mitchell went to three figures off 243 balls with his 14th boundary - his 36th hundred for Worcestershire, before becoming the last wicket of the innings, well short of his ground going for a second run after a mix-up with Adam Finch. Patel finished with 4 for 59 from 30 overs.

Glamorgan 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0KC BrathwaiteNJ Selman
2nd0KC BrathwaiteTN Cullen
3rd20DL LloydTN Cullen
4th24DL LloydWT Root
5th10SR PatelWT Root
6th44CB CookeWT Root
7th4CB CookeRAJ Smith
8th26T van der GugtenCB Cooke
9th11CB CookeLJ Carey
10th17MG HoganLJ Carey