Moore is master for students’ big lesson

7:05pm Thursday 8th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

STEPHEN Moore thumped a season's best for Worcestershire as they raced to a 340-run lead over Loughborough UCCE at Kidderminster.

The County opener, who had scored 109 twice already this year, smashed 138 off just 107 balls, hitting 13 fours and nine sixes, as the New Road side closed on 200-0 with Daryl Mitchell unbeaten on 55.

Earlier in the day, Matt Mason marked the second day of his comeback with his first Worcestershire wicket in 274 days as the students were bowled out for 194.

The seamer, who has missed the last nine months with a shoulder injury, took the wicket of Richard Morris in the fourth over after lunch, his first since August 8, 2007.

Only a battling 51 from Alan Cope and a 19-run last-wicket stand between Mike Baer and Henry Jones offered any resistance to the County bowling as skipper Gareth Batty finished with 5-43.

Chris Whelan, having struggled from the Pavilion End in the morning, was a lot more impressive coming in from the Railway End to record figures of 15-3-65-2.

Young Mehraj Ahmed, making his first-class debut, proved to be a handful and the 19-year-old wrapped up the Loughborough innings as he finished with 8-3-28-1, while Richard Jones picked up a wicket in his 13 overs for 20 runs.