Chawla leads Sussex to rout

Piyush Chawla took eight wickets in the match to add to a maiden first-class hundred as Sussex beat Worcestershire

Piyush Chawla overcame a double century partnership by Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali to continue a dream debut as Sussex trounced strugglers Worcestershire in the LV= County Championship at New Road.

The 20-year-old India Test leg-spinner followed up a brilliant maiden first-class hundred on Saturday by taking 6-152 from 51 overs as Sussex registered their first championship win in 11 months and only their third victory since becoming Division One champions in 2007.

Fourth-wicket pair Mitchell and Moeen stayed together for 63 overs, putting on 208, but the home side buckled to defeat by 10 wickets when Sussex openers Mike Yardy and Chris Nash knocked off a target of 61 with an hour to spare.

Trailing by 332 after Sussex’s massive first-innings total of 620 for nine, Worcestershire were finally dismissed for 392 after Chawla’s decisive intervention on the final afternoon.

A short-term overseas replacement for Yasir Arafat, he is initially contracted until June 28 but eight wickets in his debut match could secure a contract extension if Arafat is selected for Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka next month.

James Kirtley forced the initial breakthrough when Moeen gloved a leg-side catch after making 124 from 205 balls. Chawla then made inroads with 3-7 in 13 deliveries.

The first two wickets came in the same over. Mitchell, having batted for over six hours, propped forward and edged low to Ed Joyce at slip and Ashley Noffke was lbw in a comedown from his first innings score of 89.

When Gareth Batty carelessly swatted a catch to Kirtley at mid-on, Worcestershire had lost 4-24 in 10 overs but Steve Davies (35) found some support in a stand of 39 before Kabir Ali was lbw, playing back to Chawla.

Although Worcestershire were only 14 ahead when Davies was ninth out, bowled by Nash, the last pair, Chris Whelan (24) and Matt Mason (22 not out), delayed the inevitable by putting on 46.

With Chawla taking some late punishment, Sussex had to call up Dwayne Smith to knock out Whelan’s middle stump.

For Worcestershire, a fourth defeat in five games since winning promotion confirmed their problems at the higher level.

They were relegated at the end of two previous seasons in Division One and they have won only four of their 37 fixtures in the top-flight.

Deficiencies were evident in all departments in this match. The batting under-performed on the first day, the bowling disintegrated when Chawla made his hundred from 82 balls and the fallibility returned in the middle order after a major effort on the final day.

Mitchell had given an admirable lead in occupying the crease for 105 overs and Moeen displayed his undoubted ability in hitting 13 fours and two sixes.