Worcestershire's Wright leaves Warwickshire reeling

LV County Championship Division One, New Road
Close, day one: Warwickshire 201 v Worcestershire 155-2
Worcs 3pts, Warwicks 1pt
Match scorecard
Live commentary

Damien Wright took five wickets to put Worcestershire in control of Warwickshire on day one at New Road.

The Australian picked up 5-62, with Gareth Andrew chipping in with 3-45 as the Bears were bowled out for 201.

Chris Woakes was left unbeaten on 47, but debuting overseas player Mohammad Yousuf could only manage seven.

James Cameron (56) and Daryl Mitchell (43) then added 101 for the first wicket as Worcestershire closed on 155-2, only 46 behind.

Asked to bat first on a tricky pitch, Warwickshire were reduced to 85-4 at lunch with Ian Westwood the first man to go, bowled by one that nipped back from Wright.

Wright had William Porterfield caught as short mid-off, Yousuf edged Matt Mason to slip and, after Varun Chopra and Jim Troughton shared 41 for the fourth wicket, Chopra was trapped lbw by one that kept low from Andrew.

Troughton added 53 with Rikki Clarke (34) after lunch, but when the Warwickshire skipper was held one-handed in the gully by Wright off Alan Richardson, it started a collapse that saw the Bears lose five wickets for 33 runs.

It was left to Woakes, who was dropped on 23 in the deep by Matt Pardoe, and last man Boyd Rankin to add 42 for the last wicket before Rankin became Wright's fifth scalp.

Cameron and Mitchell capitalised on Wright's good work only for both to fall, to Rankin and Clarke respectively, before stumps.

DAY ONE REACTION

BBC Hereford & Worcester's Dave Bradley: "A day dominated by Worcestershire, who bowled far better on a wicket that always had something in it.

"Warwickshire simply didn't get the ball in the right place consistently, and indeed in the closing stages it was difficult to see why Rankin was bowling so short, as when he bowled line and length he had Solanki dropped from a sitter at slip.

"Wright bowled superbly, and in the right place for Worcestershire, keeping a good line and length and letting the pitch do the work.

"Crease occupation was the message from Steve Rhodes before the game and if Worcestershire can bat for a long time tomorrow they will be in a strong position in this game."

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Clive Eakin: "From the start of a surprising selection call with Darren Maddy the man to make way for overseas batsman Mohammad Yousuf, nothing went quite to plan for the Bears.

"A couple of batsmen looked good out in the middle, notably Varun Chopra and Rikki Clarke, but none could go on to a significant score.

"When Worcestershire batted the Warwickshire bowlers seemed to get frustrated that they weren't able to earn the success enjoyed by the home attack and the resulting indiscipline was punished by some positive batting.

"All is not yet lost, but Warwickshire will need a much better second day."