Moeen makes the next step

Moeen Ali's near-faultless century set up Worcestershire's ultimately comfortable victory at the Rose Bowl

Moeen Ali showed why Worcestershire consider he might be the long-term replacement for the retired Graeme Hick with a match-winning 125 at the Rose Bowl.

Moeen, 21, made the most of his opportunity to impress with an innings which included nine fours and three sixes to help Worcestershire defeat Hampshire by 53 runs in a high-scoring match.

Moeen had only one stroke of good fortune when, on 93, he lifted Liam Dawson to long-on. Billy Taylor held on to the catch but took it over the rope for six.

Worcestershire, having chosen to bat first, made a formidable 320 for eight and Hampshire were unable to sustain the challenge as they were bowled out for 267 at the start of the 49th over.

Worcestershire made a rapid start, led by their captain Vikram Solanki, who struck six boundaries in his 35, and by Stephen Davies’ 50 off 62 balls.

Moeen and Ben Smith enhanced Worcestershire’s position of strength courtesy of a stand of 164 for the fourth wicket.

All Hampshire’s bowlers were heavily punished, not least former England paceman Chris Tremlett, who conceded 76 from 10 overs.

Moeen was fourth out after facing 109 balls but by then Worcestershire were firmly in control.

Smith fell to the final ball of the innings, giving a return catch to Tremlett after making a valuable 70 off 74 deliveries.

Gareth Batty put on an exhibition of spin bowling to claim five wickets for 35 runs and help bowl Hampshire out for 267

Hampshire looked as though they might get close to their target as Michael Lumb and John Crawley put on 116 for the first wicket in only 21 overs.

But off-spinner Gareth Batty held a return catch to remove Lumb for 61 and then put the brakes on the middle order with an outstanding display of slow bowling.

He had Dominic Cork caught in the deep and won a leg-before verdict against Nic Pothas, who made 24.

The prize wicket was that of Crawley for an authoratitive 100, stumped coming down the wicket to Batty with the required run-rate nine an over.

Hampshire needed 117 with six wickets in hand and 13 overs remaining but Batty sent back David Balcombe to finish with figures of 5-35 from 10 immaculate overs.

Chris Whelan wrapped up Worcestershire's victory when he had Taylor caught at deep square-leg, much to the disappointment of the majority of the 4,000 crowd.

Worcestershire's victory was tarnished by a hamstring injury sustained by key pace bowler Kabir Ali as he ran in to bowl late in the Hampshire innings.

However, Worcestershire have Australian pace bowler Ashley Noffke available to come into the side later this week.