Moeen ton frustrates Lancashire

Division Two promotion hopefuls Lancashire were frustrated by a fine century from Worcestershire's Moeen Ali at New Road. Moeen hit 104 to help lift his side to 287 following a spirited fightback by the league leaders, who were boosted by a four-wicket haul by paceman Kyle Hogg.

At the end of the opening day Lancashire's opening pair of Glen Chapple and Luis Reece safely negotiated a maiden over from Alan Richardson before proceedings were brought to a close.

Moeen's eye-catching innings followed his brilliant 114 earlier in the week in a Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A match against his former county Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He also made an impression last week by scoring 61 for England Lions in a two-day game against the Australians at Northampton.

Lancashire also found the 26-year-old difficult to dislodge in their opening Championship match of the campaign when he made 78 in a rain-hit draw against Worcestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.

Moeen, whose knock today hoisted him well past the 1,000-run mark in the Championship this summer, reached three figures off 194 balls with 13 fours. It was the 11th first-class century of his career and his third in the Championship this term.

Worcestershire made 38 in 13 overs before their opening pair were split up by seamer Tom Smith's third delivery which accounted for Daryl Mitchell, whose outside edge was snapped up in the slips by Andrea Agathangelou. Mitchell's dismissal for 22, following a string of impressive limited-overs scores, signalled the start of a half-century partnership between his fellow opener Matt Pardoe and Moeen.

They put on 54 in 17 overs before the penultimate delivery before lunch, bowled by left-arm medium-pacer Reece, had Pardoe caught behind for 35 by Gareth Cross to leave the hosts 92 for 2 off 30 overs at the break

Thilan Samaraweera struggled to get into his stride and suffered a soft dismissal when, after leaving alone a Hogg delivery, ambled out of his ground to allow the alert Cross to stump him for 6 off 32 balls. His careless departure failed to unsettle Moeen who instantly found a reliable partner in teenager Tom Fell. They joined forces to complete a half-century stand before the taking their side to 196 for three off 64 overs at tea.

They went on to add 91 in 29 overs before another slice of carelessness resulted in Fell being removed for 43 when he turned Arron Lilley to square leg and wandered out of his ground to enable Reece to run him out with a smart throw in to Cross. Next ball Ross Whiteley, making his Championship debut for Worcestershire, was bowled by Lilley before the visitors continued their fightback by ousting Joe Leach.

Moeen finally fell during the first over with the new ball when he nicked Hogg to Cross after facing 205 balls. Jack Shantry and Ben Cox both fell cheaply as Worcestershire lost six wickets for 37 runs in 15 overs before Richardson and Graeme Cessford topped up the home side's tally with an entertaining last-wicket stand worth 35.