PACEMAN Kabir Ali signalled his intentions for the new season with a career-best performance in Worcestershire's crushing 332-run victory over Oxford UCCE in The Parks.

The 21-year-old grabbed 7-43 as the County warmed up in style for their opening Championship match of the campaign against Gloucestershire which gets under way at New Road on Friday.

For talented Kabir it was the ideal way to prove that his painful memories of last season are firmly behind him.

His 2001 exploits were cruelly cut short after dislocating his collarbone while fielding in the floodlit Norwich Union League Division Two match with Durham in July.

Yesterday, however, he was back in full flow and ripped through Oxford's batting line-up after the County had declared on their overnight total of 159-6. At one stage he claimed six wickets in 21 balls.

Included among his haul was Huw Jones who top scored for Oxford by making a well deserved 97 off 132 balls.

Oxford-born Jones, in his second year of business studies, drove expertly before missing a seaming delivery from Kabir.

Jones and Neil Millar, putting on 128, at least restored some pride in their side after the battering they suffered at the hands of Worcestershire century-makers Graeme Hick and Ben Smith on the first day.

Skipper Hick cracked 164 while newcomer Smith marked his first-class debut for the County by hitting 137.

The only downside in an otherwise polished Worcestershire display was an injury picked up by Vikram Solanki.

He suffered a bruised finger which will be checked before the County finalise their side for the forthcoming Championship encounter with Gloucestershire.