WINNING when you’re not at your best is a sign of a good side and I think that describes Worcestershire’s performance against Leicestershire.
We were a bit off the pace in the first two days at New Road before eventually coming through to win by 204 runs.
We got a fantastic start with the bat on the first day but the seam bowlers, who have been superb as a unit, all seemed to have a bad day on day two.
But, even after those two days, we were still in the game and, on the third day, we batted really well and that set us up for the victory.
I thought Tom Kohler-Cadmore was outstanding with a good 41 in the first innings and in the second, he deserved to get his first century in first-class cricket.
But it was a fine innings of 99 by Tom and we were able to push on for the win from there.
He and Alexei Kervezee really got us into an unassailable position in the second innings.
Tom had a sticky start to the season but he’s learned a lot from that experience and he will be a fine player.
He will get many more opportunities to get a century in the future. He’s also coming into form at the right time for us.
Joe Leach also put in a fine all-round performance with six wickets – three in each innings – and made an impressive 74 with the bat in our second innings.
On a personal note, I reached 1,000 first-class runs for the third time in my career. Every season my target is to get to 1,000 runs and average 40. Fortunately, I have got there with five games to go this year and I am looking to maintain that for the remainder of the campaign.
We remain top of the LV= County Championship Division Two table but I am not thinking about promotion. Although that is a by-product of success, we are taking each game as it comes, starting at Gloucestershire on Monday.
If we get over the line in the next run of games I think we will be there but it’s important we focus on doing our jobs and the results will take care of themselves.
The Leicestershire game saw Saeed Ajmal leave the club to return to Pakistan but now we have Mitchell McClenaghan as our overseas player and he is raring to go.
Mitchell has got a point to prove to try to get in the New Zealand Test team and he’s champing at the bit to get going.
It’s changed the dynamics of the side with the extra seamer instead of Saeed’s spin but we are looking forward to having his pace in the side.
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