Day 3
SHANTRY WICKETS AND MITCHELL MILESTONE PUT WORCESTERSHIRE IN CONTROL
Jack Shantry helped Worcestershire claim maximum bowling points on the third day of the LV County Championship match with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
The left armer finished with four wickets – including three in a destructive two over spell before lunch – as Worcestershire dismissed the home side for 263 in 66.2 overs.
Then Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell passed 7,000 first class runs in his career in leading his side to 103-1 off 38 overs by the close.
Hampshire resumed on 37-3 and their captain Jimmy Adams and Will Smith moved the score to 92 before Shantry's destructive spell.
Adams had made 67 off 97 balls with 11 fours when he was caught at mid-wicket by Alexei Kervezee.
Shantry struck again with his next delivery when Joe Gatting, on his debut after moving from Sussex, edged to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at slip.
The same combination struck again in Shantry's next over to account for Smith (29) and the bowler at that stage had figures of 3-12 from five overs with Hampshire on 105-6 in the 28th over.
Worcestershire were then held up by a stand of 93 in 23 overs between Sean Ervine and wicket-keeper Adam Wheater.
Gareth Andrew broke the partnership when Wheater (35) provided Kervezee with a second catch at mid-wicket.
Mitchell's decision to introduce spinner Moeen Ali to the attack was quickly justified as he clung onto a return catch from Matt Coles (1).
But it left the England player ringing his right hand and he bowled only one more over before leaving the field for treatment.
Shantry returned to the attack to claim a fourth wicket when David Balcombe (23) was caught behind by wicket-keeper Ben Cox.
The innings came to an end when Charlie Morris, who like Kohler-Cadmore was making his County Championship debut, dismissed Ervine who top-edged to Mitchell at slip after making 93 from 116 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.
Shantry finished with figures of 4-68 from 18 overs, Chris Russell 2-73, Morris 2-68, Andrew 1-44 and Moeen 1-8.
Worcestershire openers Mitchell and Matt Pardoe put on 47 before the latter on 19 fell to a good diving catch by Wheater off Coles bowling around the wicket.
Moeen was immediately off the mark with a two off Coles and the 50 came up in the 18th over.
Mitchell passed 7,000 runs when on 14 at a healthy career average of nearly 38 and by the close had moved onto 44 not out.
Moeen was unbeaten on 27 in his first innings since returning from England duty and his partnership with Mitchell is so far worth 56.
