Tudor resistance in vain

Alex Tudor © Getty Images

Worcestershire cruised to a nine-wicket success against Essex to record their third away victory of the season in Liverpool Victoria Division Two at Chelmsford.

The visitors were set just 120 runs for victory and that after some late-order defiance from Essex for whom Alex Tudor produced 93 while also helping Tim Phillips to add 98 for the eighth wicket.

Resuming the day on 302 for four, Essex soon lost Ronnie Irani who added only five runs to his overnight 92 before offering a return catch to Zaheer Khan before the same bowler trapped Ryan ten Doeschate in his next over to take his match tally to 11 wickets.

James Foster batted responsibly but with his score on 61 and his side still needing 10 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Matt Mason found the edge of the bat leaving Graeme Hick at second slip to complete a superb catch.

The first of Tudor’s 16 boundaries ensured the visitors would be forced to bat for a second time and the former England paceman continued to bludgeon away in contrast to Phillips who preferred the sedate approach.

He became entrenched on 25 facing 47 balls without adding to his score whilst Tudor advanced from 22 on to 70 having completed a 42-ball half-century with nine boundaries that also embraced a six.

Stuart Wedge, the third-day replacement for Kabir Ali who had been summoned into the England one-day squad, broke the resistance pinning Phillips in front of his stumps with a delivery that kept low before Hick completed another stunning catch at second slip in the next over to remove Andre Adams with Essex leading by 89 runs.

The last pair added 30 before Tudor, who had survived two chances to wicket-keeper Stephen Davies on 71 and 75, was finally dismissed just seven runs short of a second first-class century when he drove to gully.

That left Worcestershire a minimum of 45 overs to pursue their modest target and,  having lost Stephen Moore for 16, fellow opener Phil Jaques appeared to have been a second casualty.

The Australian began to walk following an appeal for a catch behind the wicket off the bowling of Adams with his score on 27, and the total on 51, but following a discussion between the umpires, he was called back to the crease after they had failed to be satisfied the ball had carried to Foster.

The unlucky Adams also saw the same batsman dropped at second slip by Phillips after he had just reached a 51-ball half-century before the visitors went on to complete their formal victory in less than 19 overs and claim a 22-point haul with Essex left with just four points.