Kasprowicz steps up in tour draw

Tour match, New Road:
Australia 406-9 dec & 161-2 drew with Worcestershire 187

Match scorecard

Kasprowicz took all five wickets during the afternoon session

Australia paceman Michael Kasprowicz boosted his chances of playing in the second Test against England by taking 5-67 in the draw with Worcestershire.

Kasprowicz was left out for the first Test victory at Lord's in favour of Jason Gillespie, who went wicketless.

Gillespie took two early wickets but Kasprowicz outshone him to help dismiss the home side for 187 at New Road.

Captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke then made 50s as the tourists finished on 161-2 from 38 overs.

Clarke moved impressively to 58 before being run out by Stephen Peters' throw from deep mid-wicket after Ponting refused his call for a second run.

Brad Hodge (21) was then bowled by Zander de Bruyn but Ponting grafted for a half-century off 101 deliveries featuring six fours and a six.

Earlier, Australia declared their first innings on their overnight 406-9 with Gillespie unbeaten on 53 from 84 balls - the sixth half-century of his career.

Against the Australians England can't afford any passengers - our batsmen have been leaning in that direction far too much From TC Have your say on TMS

Gillespie then took the new ball but it was his opening partner Shaun Tait, in his first bowl of the tour, who claimed the first wicket by trapping Peters lbw for a duck with a yorker.

The paceman then had Graeme Hick caught behind for 21 and had Ben Smith taken at point in the very next over.

With Stephen Moore (69) and Vikram Solanki (36) sharing a stand of 85 for the fourth wicket, Kasprowicz was frustrated before lunch.

But he made the breakthough shortly afterwards, having Solanki caught behind as six wickets fell for the addition of 18 runs.

South African all-rounder de Bruyn flicked a delivery straight to Simon Katich at mid-wicket before Tait removed Moore with a short-pitched ball which was fended to gully.

Kasprowicz was soon back among the wickets, having Kabir Ali caught at second slip and bowling Ray Price.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill picked up his first wicket of the tour when Matt Mason spooned a catch to gully.

Then Kasprowicz completed his haul as Nadeem Malik played a checked drive and gave a return catch.