Alex Gidman has highlighted the great spirit in the Worcestershire squad and says they will go into the Vitality Blast with additional momentum after an innings win over Leicestershire in the LV=Insurance County Championship at New Road.
Loan signing Matthew Waite’s career-best figures of 4-35, some hostile and effective bowling from Dillon Pennington, backed up by the accuracy of Charlie Morris, enabled Worcestershire to dismiss the Running Foxes for 170 and triumph by an innings and 259 runs.
It was their second innings victory of the season and lifted them into third spot in the table and right into the thick of the promotion battle before the break for the Blast.
Gidman said: “I thought it was an outstanding performance from the word go. We bowled with great discipline and accuracy on day one and put Leicestershire under pressure, which I thought was outstanding.
“The batting was very special, and then again today, to back it up with some really good bowling, was outstanding, so a really good performance.
“The accuracy and discipline with the ball was brilliant and some really good partnerships with the bat, some amazing batsmanship.
“Obviously, Azhar Ali and Jack were superb. It is hard to pick out one or two things. It was just a great three days.
“Our members and supporters were brilliant. There has been a really good feel about the club for the three days so many thanks for them. It was just a really good feel to the whole three days.”
Worcestershire also were superb in the field with outstanding catches by Ben Cox, Morris and Waite.
Gidman said: “We work extremely hard on our catching and fielding, and it is nice when they stick. I’m sure we will drop a few at some stage, but they are working hard.”
As for the comradeship amongst the squad, Gidman said: “I’ve said for the whole season that the mood in the changing room is brilliant.
“They are having fun, enjoying each other’s company; they are smiling, laughing.
“Even when we’ve had some dips and some poor sessions, they’ve still been a really happy bunch and enjoying their cricket.
“That hasn’t changed at all, and coming off the back of a good win here will give us some more momentum.”
One player who quickly settled into life at New Road was Waite, with the on-loan Yorkshire player returning career-best Championship figures of 4-35.
Gidman said: “I thought he was brilliant, a really good guy, fitted into the dressing room very quickly and very well.
“Really pleased for him. A lot of these guys who come from other counties, they just want an opportunity, and he has really enjoyed playing.
“He’s had a big smile on his face and enjoyed his week with us so far.”
Gidman also praised the achievement of Cox in clocking up 400 dismissals for Worcestershire – only the fourth player to achieve that feat after Steve Rhodes, Roy Booth and Hugo Yarnold.
He said: “Ben is an outstanding keeper as we know, does his job day in and day out without too much of a fuss.
“He is still very agile and mobile and does his job very well so delighted for him to get to that landmark.
“Ben also batted very well and gave us that impetus, and he had a fine day with the gloves.”
