Ali despatches Derbyshire

County Championship D2, Worcester: Worcestershire 301 beat Derbyshire 163 & 51-5 by an innings and 42 runs
Worcestershire 20 pts, Derbyshire 3

Full scorecard

Karl Krikken's innings is brought to a conclusive end

Kabir Ali produced the best bowling performance of his career to send Derbyshire sliding to a sixth successive Championship defeat.

The 22-year-old claimed 8-58, picking up all five wickets needed for victory on the final morning in the space of 7.4 overs.

Resuming on 51-5, Derbyshire's hopes of a miraculous escape disappeared almost immediately as Ali won an lbw decision to dismiss Indian Mohammad Kaif for 30.

He followed that with three wickets in a single over as Karl Krikken and Kevin Dean were bowled and Mohammad Ali edged a catch to wicket-keeper Steve Rhodes.

Today was a bit of a stock market crash and we are playing four-day cricket with a one-day mentality Derbyshire coach Adrian Pierson

It left Derbyshire on 58-9 but some bold hitting by last man Lian Wharton delayed the inevitable as he and Graeme Welch put on 38

Wharton hit a six and five fours in making 30 off 23 balls before he was bowled by Ali to end the match, leaving Welch on 11 not out.

Worcestershire Director of Cricket Tom Moody afterwards praised Ali's performance at a time when his family is mourning the death of his two-week old son.

"It is a difficult time for any player when you have a personal tragedy and he showed a lot of maturity and a lot of character," he said.

Worcestershire's 20 points takes them 18 clear at the top of the second division having made up their game in hand over Northants.

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Worcestershire: S D Peters, A Singh, Kadeer Ali, B F Smith (Capt), V S Solanki, A J Hall, G J Batty, S J Rhodes (Wkt), Kabir Ali, M S Mason, M Hayward.

Derbyshire: M J Di Venuto, C W G Bassano, R M Khan, M Kaif, S A Selwood, D G Cork (Capt), G Welch, K J Dean, K M Krikken (Wkt), Mohammad Ali, L J Wharton.