Yorkshire thank Rashid

Adil Rashid © Getty Images

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Title-chasing Yorkshire were boosted by a maiden first-class century from Adil Rashid, before relegation-haunted Worcestershire hit back through seamer Kabir Ali in the LV County Championship Division One match at Kidderminster.

Talented teenager Rashid scored 108, containing 17 fours off 152 balls, in Yorkshire’s first-innings 319.

After an unbeaten 69 by Graeme Hick, Worcestershire then opened up the rain-ravaged match by declaring well behind on 172 for five off 42 overs.

Darren Gough's men nudged their overall lead to 179 by stumps, limping to 32 for four after lethal Kabir had grabbed four wickets for one run in 16 balls.

Earlier Rashid, unbeaten on six in his side's overnight total of 152 for five from 35 overs, was undoubtedly the star of the show for Yorkshire.

The Bradford-born batsman was in confident mood to eclipse his previous best score of 91 not out, in the championship match against Surrey at Headingley Carnegie last month.

The 19-year-old deservedly reached the three-figure mark with a flashing four over backward point off Kabir. It was his 16th boundary off 146 deliveries.

Rashid began the day in the company of Gerard Brophy - a combination which went on to add 111 in 27 overs.

The confident double act was finally parted when Brophy, on 41, attempted a forcing shot off paceman Roger Sillence and was well caught low down at mid-wicket by Ben Smith.

Tim Bresnan followed shortly afterwards - caught by wicket-keeper Steve Davies off seamer Nadeem Malik - before a brief heavy shower resulted in the loss of eight overs.

The interruption failed to unsettle the determined Rashid, before seamer Doug Bollinger hastened Yorkshire's decline with three wickets for eight runs in 19 balls.

First, he yorked Jason Gillespie and then had Gough gloving a catch to Davies before finishing with Rashid's wicket.

Bollinger, in his last appearance before jetting out to join up with the Australian A squad, ended with 4-82 - his best return for Worcestershire.

Any hopes bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire had a constructing a solid platform to their reply foundered on Matthew Hoggard, returning to action after a month out with a back injury and very soon yorking Stephen Moore and then seeing off Vikram Solanki two balls later.

Phil Jaques battled his way to 20 before being trapped lbw by Bresnan, and at tea Solanki's men were in rebuilding mode at 72 for three off 23 overs.

Shortly after the interval, however, Worcestershire suffered another blow when Smith fell to a slip catch by Anthony McGrath off Gough.

His departure brought together veteran Hick and youngster Davies, who both have a connection with Kidderminster where Worcestershire are playing due to flood damage at their New Road Ground.

Hick used to play Birmingham League Cricket for Kidderminster, while Davies went to school in the town.

Their local knowledge came in useful in a 51-run stand in nine overs, before Davies cut Bresnan to Rashid at backward-point.

By the declaration, Hick had smacked one six and 12 fours from 65 balls.

Yorkshire's second innings then got off to a desperate start, Kabir capturing four scalps inside seven hectic overs to take his seasonal first-class wicket haul to 52.

Craig White, McGrath and Joe Sayers were all dismissed without scoring - and Younus Kahn fell for six to leave Kabir with figures of 4-14 in six overs.