A SUPERB spell of 4-23 from Kabir Ali gave Worcestershire a crushing 79-run victory against National League Division One leaders Surrey at Guildford.

Ali, who finished with figures of 4-30, tore into the Surrey top order, claiming the wickets of Scott Newman, Ally Brown, Mark Ramprakash and James Benning with just 36 on the board.

Assisted by fellow paceman Matt Mason (4-43) the Royals dismissed Surrey for 140 in reply to their 45-over total of 219-6.

Surrey had begun positively with the early wicket of Anurag Singh, who was caught at third man off Martin Bicknell.

James Ormond then chipped in with the wickets of Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick respectively with the score on 40.

Royals' skipper Ben Smith and South African all-rounder Andrew Hall came to the rescue with a stand of 87, before Benning brilliantly caught Hall on the leg-side boundary for 32.

David Leatherdale was then bowled by Tim Murtagh to make the score 161-5.

Former Surrey player Gareth Batty smashed a quick-fire 23 before he was out in the last over to leave Smith on a season's best 93.

In reply, Surrey soon lost Brown and Ramprakash followed after he edged to wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes.

Newman was dismissed for 15 off a leading edge that looped to Leatherdale at cover, while Benning was caught at deep backward point by Smith and Rikki Clarke was caught by Batty.

Mason accounted for Jonathan Batty, caught behind by wicketkeeper Rhodes, and then followed up with the wickets of Bicknell and Adam Hollioake.

The introduction of Batty to the attack provided the downfall of Ormond, who was stumped by Rhodes after a partnership of 27 with Saqlain Mushtaq had taken the score to 126-9.

The innings was finally ended when Ali ran out Murtagh.