Leicester (third day): Leicestershire 120 and 346 (3pts) lost to Worcestershire 379 and 92-0 (21pts) by ten wickets

It was fitting that Worcestershire eventually won this match with a six – Stephen Moore’s slap over mid-wicket was symbolic of his side’s total dominance of this contest.

While they might still trail Leicestershire in Division Two of the county championship, for large periods of this match they appeared to be in a different league altogether, particularly Simon Jones and Vikram Solanki, whose contributions in the first innings had all but ensured victory by the close on the first day.

Worcestetershire won by 10 wickets on the third day, a victory which propels them into the top half of the points table. On this evidence that is undoubtedly where they belong.

What had looked for so long like being an innings victory for the visitors, especially after Jones’ early dismissal of James Allenby, turned into a stolid affair. Worcestershire’s bowlers failed to find the penetration or accuracy of Sunday and Monday and that, combined with an obdurate four-and-a-half hour innings by Paul Nixon (92, 205 balls, 13 fours) helped whittle down what remained of a 259-run first-innings lead and set them a target of 89 to win.

Worcestershire got the surplus without too much trouble, openers Moore (46, 62 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (40, 67) benefiting from average-boosting not outs in quick time. They should have been on the golf course, something they felt themselves judging byhow they teed off against some pretty ordinary bowling.

Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, said: “I think it makes the win more enjoyable because we had to work really hard for it. When you know you have had to sweat for a victory it makes it taste better.

“Paul Nixon is exactly the type of cricketer I enjoy and he played well today. He showed tremendous fighting spirit. But we knew the first session of the game was crucial and we have had the upper hand since then. The way we played on the first morning went a long way towards the victory.
“The pitches here tend to be flatter than they look so we were not worried about putting them in but we wanted to get them out for under 240. To get them for 120 was obviously a bonus.

“The spell from Simon Jones and the bowling unit as a whole was devastating. It allowed us to bat fresh and get a score that was difficult for them to deal with.”

This was a match of three pitches: the dead one that Nixon and Claude Henderson looked untroubled on yesterday was incomparable to the green surface unveiled on Sunday morning, which was indistinguishable from the outfield surrounding it until the groundstaff put stumps in the ground. Somewhere between the two was the one on which Solanki manufactured a superb century in Worcestershire first-innings 379. However, in the context of this match the captain’s main contribution was calling correctly at the toss. His bowlers took full advantage of the elements, bowling Leicestershire out inside 40 fierce overs.

Kevin Shine, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s fast bowling coach, had clearly arrived at Grace Road too late yesterday.

Had he been here from the start he would have seen an unplayable Jones take five for 30 and Kabir Ali, who has been disproportionately overshadowed by his colleague in this match, pick up three of Leicestershire’s recognised batsmen. Kabir was something of an unsung hero. He finished the match with seven for 127 which compares favourably to Jones’ seven for 103.

While they were responsible for the bulk of the leg work – both bowled 36 overs – an unlikely source, Gareth Andrew, finally cut off Leicestershire’s air supply. The all-rounder took the last trio of wickets in a 4.3-over spell which had been preceded by tangible frustration, epitomised by his noisy celebration after ending Henderson’s 95-minute defiance.

However, the South African spinner (54, 90 balls) had done his bit and featured in the highest eighth-wicket partnership – 103 – for Leicestershire against Worcestershire. His innings was helepd by a lack of impetus in the field. The home side syphoned 29 in four overs after the new ball was taken and Moeen Ali’s spin was called upon, in the absence of Gareth Batty who missed this match for personal reasons, to speed up a flagging over-rate.

Worcestershire have already been deducted three points this season for that crime but here it created the farcical situation of Jones bowling to win the match at one end and Moeen scampering through his overs at other.

The fine victory ended on a fairly sombre note, however, as Magoffin will be returning to Western Australia in a week’s time. This was his last outing for Worcestershire.

Rhodes said: “We were hoping to get a little breathing space from Tom Moody [Western Australia’s coach] regarding Steve but he has put his foot down, which I can totally understand, and he wants him back for the start of their season.

“He has been a pleasure to work with. His style of bowling has been disciplined and worked well for us. Unfortunately there is no news on a replacement. It is difficult. I keep coming to dead ends.”