Worcestershire win by 14 runs despite brave last wicket stand

Worcestershire defeated Glamorgan by just 14 runs at New Road after a spirited attempt by the Welsh county to score 339 - the highest score of the match - and a brave last wicket stand of 56 in 12 overs between Robert Croft and David Harrison that nearly took the Welsh county to a famous victory.

Resuming on 174-4, Jimmy Maher and Mark Wallace played watchfully during the first hour, as Matt Mason continued to bowl an accurate spell from the New Road End. Wallace began with some sweetly timed cover drives off Kabir Ali and Mason, and he duly reached his first Championship half century since the end of May, with a clip off his legs. After nearly chipping a catch to Leatherdale at cover in the third over, Maher was very restrained, scoring just 8 runs in the first hour, and the Australian frequently opted to shoulder arms as Mason bowled a steady line outside his off stump.

With the score on 205 Glamorgan had some good fortune, as Kabir, running in from deep backward square-leg, just failed to hold onto a top edge from Wallace. But in the next over, Wallace`s defiant innings came to an end, as he was bowled by Gareth Batty after adding 91 in 35 overs with Maher. Two balls later, Mason, who had opted to go around the wicket to Maher, dismissed the Australian as he edged to Hick at second slip having made a fine 95 - the highest individual score of the match.

210-6 then became 229-7 as Darren Thomas was leg before to Batty. But Robert Croft and Alex Wharf then counter-attacked against some loose bowling, especially from Nantie Hayward who conceeded 23 runs in a four over spell, and failed to contain the Glamorgan batsmen in the way that Mason had done during his pre-lunch spell of 10-3-21-1.

With 77 needed and Hayward`s radar not working, Ben Smith, the Worcestershire captain, decided to bring on David Leatherdale for the final over from the New Road end, and the Yorkshireman made the all important breakthrough with his fourth ball as Wharf was adjudged leg before, despite getting a long way forward.

13 balls after the interval Kabir bowled Michael Kasprowicz, and it seemed that a Worcestershire was a formality as David Harrison walked into bat with a sore hand after having been stung the previous day. But the young all-rounder showed no sign of discomfort, as he proceeded to produce a series of powerful cover drives. With Croft calmly working the ball around at the other end, the last pair added a jaunty 50 in 11 overs, and for a while it looked as though Worcestershire`s decision to take the new ball might backfire, as the ball frequently sped to the boundary from the bat of Croft and Harrison.

Croft reached his steadfast half century from 72 balls, whilst Harrison ondrove Kabir for his sixth four, as the victory target was almost down to single figures. But next ball, the Worcestershire seamer ended Glamorgan`s valiant efforts as Harrison was caught by Batty in the gully.