AN out-of-sorts Worcestershire were thumped by an innings and 42 runs at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire grabbed their first LV= County Championship win since mid-August.

Resuming on 159-5 and faced with the unlikely task of batting all day to save this Division Two game, Worcestershire’s second innings yielded 252 as they fell to defeat.

Worcestershire started the final day well with captain Daryl Mitchell, not out on 71 overnight, looking in superb nick.

He progressed untroubled towards three figures, ably supported by wicket-keeper Michael Johnson.

The pair batted for an hour to take their partnership to 69 before Hampshire finally struck, Chris Wood trapping Mitchell lbw for 92 to leave the visitors 212-6.

Johnson (44) departed just three overs later, also trapped lbw by a ball which kept low from David Balcombe, as Hampshire scented the possibility of an early finish.

Some lusty hitting from new batsman Gareth Andrew delayed the inevitable — he struck the unfortunate Wood for four consecutive fours in one over — but the bowlers remained disciplined and waited for their rewards.

They did not have to wait long. Balcombe struck again, softening up Richard Jones with a short-pitched delivery, before pitching one up which the tail-ender obligingly chipped to mid-wicket.

Andrew departed minutes later for a breezy 28 from 27 balls, holing out to Sean Ervine at long-on off the bowling of Danny Briggs, to leave his side just one wicket from defeat.

And that wicket came as the lunch break loomed, with Briggs, who finished with 3-38, bowling Chris Russell for a duck to complete victory.