New Road saw 12 wickets fall on day one as Worcestershire were dismissed cheaply in their Championship Division Two match against Kent. The fact that the game was able to be held at all was a credit to Worcestershire, seven weeks after the ground was under 10 feet of water.
Worcestershire began their season with a rain-affected draw against Hampshire and were bowled out for just 224 in their home opener, with Alexei Kervezee the only man to get past 50. But they dismissed Kent openers Sam Northeast and Rob Key after tea to leave the visitors on 39 for two in reply at the close of play.
Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat but lost Matthew Pardoe for a duck as he was bowled lbw by Doug Bollinger, Kent’s overseas signing. That brought Moeen Ali to the crease and he rattled off 41 in just 37 balls, including a six off England team-mate James Tredwell that led to a replacement ball being needed.
Moeen was then bowled by Darren Stevens and Tom Kohler-Cadmore followed just two balls later lbw for a duck.
Kervezee put on 92 for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell before he was caught by Tredwell off the bowling of Robbie Joseph and Mitchell followed soon after. The skipper nicked to wicketkeeper Sam Billings off Joseph to exit for 47, a continuation of the good form that saw him register 172 not out at Southampton last week.
Ben Cox was next to go for a four-ball duck and Ross Whiteley (12) followed, bowled by Bollinger, but not before he had hit Tredwell for a second six. This time, the ball was found. Shaaiq Choudhry, Gareth Andrew and Jack Shantry all made useful contributions but Worcestershire will have wanted to make more on a glorious day.
Kent made a solid start and were 31 without loss when Shantry trapped Key in front for 11. Choudhry soon rapped Northeast on the pads to send him back for 18 but Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash saw the visitors through to stumps.
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