| LV= County Championship Division Two, Headingley (day two) |
| Worcestershire 389 (102 overs): D’Oliveira 103, Kashif Ali 93; Bess 3-55, Coad 2-52, Hill 2-54, Milnes 2-79 |
| Yorkshire: But to bat |
| Yorkshire 3 pts, Worcestershire 3 pts |
| Match scorecard |
Worcestershire have been promoted again to Division One of many County Championship – for a report seventh time.
Aided by skipper Brett D’Oliveira finishing his century, Alan Richardson’s aspect handed 300 towards Yorkshire at Headingley to choose up the second batting bonus level they wanted to edge out third-placed Leicestershire.
Alongside already topped Division Two champions Durham, the Pears shall be again taking part in high flight cricket once more subsequent season for the primary time since being relegated for a sixth time – additionally a report – in 2018.
It’s six years to the day since they had been final promoted in 2017.
Skipper D’Oliveira missed out on the chance to hit the promotion-sealing run when, with only one wanted, he was out leg earlier than wicket to Matt Milnes.
The honour was handed as a substitute to younger spinner Josh Baker, who clipped two runs off Milnes, earlier than holing out a ball later.
After the lack of play on day one, extra is predicted on day two, with the forecast Storm Agnes anticipated to hit Leeds early this afternoon.
Pears newest promotion towards the chances
Worcestershire already held the report for essentially the most promotions because the County Championship turned a two-division construction in 2000.
Their whole of six was already one higher than Nottinghamshire (5), whereas Essex, Lancashire and Northants have all executed it 4 instances.
However this seventh success, six years on from doing it for the final time beneath former boss Steve Rhodes in 2017, is their longest between promotions.
Additionally it is maybe essentially the most stunning, given all that has gone on behind the scenes over the previous 12 months or extra, within the continued battle to maintain forward financially within the interval following the Covid pandemic.
Coach Alex Gidman left final winter, to get replaced by his deputy Richardson – and the membership needed to wait a very long time earlier than lastly tempting former Warwickshire and England boss Ashley Giles to reach as chief government.
They’ve additionally been hit by the introduced departure of a number of gamers, most notably England paceman Josh Tongue, fellow quick bowler Dillon Pennington and batter Jack Haynes to Nottinghamshire.
However all three – together with one other former Pears participant Joe Clarke at Notts – will now be on the identical stage as Worcestershire subsequent season.
‘The boys have been actually collectively’ – response
Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson:
“It has been a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster at instances with every little thing that is gone on. However the lads within the squad have held themselves brilliantly effectively, haven’t been distracted and proven some exceptional resilience.
“You hoped that they might go on and obtain the red-ball purpose we set out initially of the season, they usually deserve it. What’s the key to a profitable season? I do not assume we are able to level to 1 factor if I am sincere, however the boys have been actually collectively.
“We have in all probability had a little bit of luck at instances, which we have not all the time had. Definitely, within the red-ball sport initially of the 12 months, our process was made a bit bit simpler with climate circumstances. However we nonetheless needed to put in some wonderful shifts, which we did towards Leicestershire at dwelling and Sussex at dwelling, to both win or save video games.
“We get plenty of challenges, they usually come in numerous guises and totally different kind – however the boys handled it brilliantly effectively.
“It did have an effect, however the guys ensured the distraction aspect of all of it had a minimal impact. It is full credit score to the gamers who’re staying, but in addition those that aren’t going to be round, that they’ve all purchased in and proven loads of dedication and actually put a shift in for us.”This stuff can derail you, however I am all the time somebody who seems at issues and thinks you possibly can dwell on them, and you may allow them to make a unfavorable affect, or you possibly can flip them round and see it as one other problem.”