Daryl Mitchell signs off with win after Leicestershire subside

Daryl Mitchell ended his 17 seasons as a Worcestershire player on a successful note with Joe Leach, who is standing down as club captain, playing a major role in the 10-wicket win over Leicestershire at New Road.

Mitchell was presented with prints marking his achievement at New Road by club chairman, Fanos Hira, and president, Cynthia Crawford, during the lunch interval on the third day.

By then Worcestershire were already ready well on the way to victory thanks to a deadly opening three-wicket burst by Leach which helped reduce Leicestershire to 35 for 4.

A career best 90 off 220 balls from former Worcestershire batter George Rhodes enabled Leicestershire to avoid an innings defeat. But Worcestershire were left only a 12-run target and Mitchell and Jake Libby knocked them off in double quick time.

Worcestershire extended their overnight total from 378 for 6 to 422 all out, an overall advantage of 200. Ed Barnard went back to Chris Wright and nicked it through to keeper Sam Bates for 48, ending a stand of 116 in 31 overs alongside Ben Cox.

Cox advanced from his overnight 52 to 59 but then went for a firm drive against Abidine Sakande and was also caught behind, before Leach perished at mid-on against the same bowler for 12.

The innings was wrapped up when Josh Baker aimed a blow on the leg-side but top edged a catch to Rhodes at cover to leave Dillon Pennington unbeaten on 10.

Leach quickly made inroads into the Leicestershire batting line-up with a deadly burst of 3 for 9 from his opening four overs.

Rishi Patel had failed to trouble the scorers when he shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped back in and was bowled. Hassan Azad went for a cut in Leach's second over and feathered through to Cox and Lewis Hill edged a low and straightforward catch to Jack Haynes at first slip.

Charlie Morris struck with what was the final ball before lunch. Louis Kimber could not keep down a ball angled in and Barnard showed a safe pair of hands at third slip.

Rhodes and Mike opted for a positive approach after lunch and the latter pulled Pennington for his 10th four to complete a 63 ball half century. A cut to the boundary off Baker took Rhodes to his fifty from 103 deliveries with eight fours and a six.

The stand was worth 88 but then Barnard struck twice in three overs. Mike was lbw for 58 after attempting to work to leg and Bates nicked a ball angled across him and Haynes at first slip held the chance low to his right.

Rhodes achieved a new career-best score after surpassing his unbeaten 61 against Northamptonshire when on loan to Leicestershire from New Road. But Baker was rewarded with the last ball before tea when Ed Barnes pushed forward and was bowled.

Rhodes continued to provide stubborn resistance and acting Leicestershire captain, Callum Parkinson, required 45 balls to get off the mark. But Pennington wrapped up the innings with Parkinson, on 21, and Sakande, four, both caught a third slip and in between Rhodes nicked through to Cox.