Date-stamped : 04 Sep95 - 10:27 CC: Worcestershire v Somerset, Worcester, 29 Aug - 1 Sep 1995 ====> Day 1, 29 Aug 95 Somerset stiffened by painstaking Holloway - Mike Beddow First day of four: Somerset (267-6) v Worcs PIRAN HOLLOWAY`S successful conversion from wicketkeeper to spe- cialist batsman delivered another dividend for Somerset before the rain that had dampened nearby Edgbaston finally made a 25- mile journey along the M5. Play continued without interruption here for 5.5 hours, and Hol- loway was involved for 242 minutes in cementing his position at the top of his county`s averages. An innings of 74, sensibly based on crease occupation rather than flamboyance, was exactly what Somerset needed on a slow surface. The batsmen had no pace to help them and usually had to wait for any lapses in length or direction. These were few and far between while Stuart Lampittgot through 23 overs for 40 runs, and there were two wickets each for Phil Newport and Paul Thomas, who benefited from a little more bounce while bowling exclusively from the New Road end. Somerset omitted Mark Lathwell - a sign their dire injury situa- tion is at last easing - but Holloway`s position was assured after scores of 117 and 51 not out against Leicestershire. Anoth- er fifty followed as he applied a sure touch to half-century stands with three partners. Andy Hayhurst played securely until falling to second slip, but Richard Harden`s dismissal required something more spectacular by Lampitt, sprawling low to take an awkward chance at first slip. The left-handed Holloway, who made his first championship century against Worcestershire during his time with Warwickshire, col- lected 10 boundaries from 192 balls and eventually departed as he drove at the impressively sharp Thomas. By then, Graham Rose was aspiring to one of his thunderbolt per- formances, pulling Thomas for six into the hospitality area at square leg and taking nine other boundaries in reaching 53 from 60 balls. Much to Worcestershire`s relief, Tom Moody`s reactions were sufficiently alert to hold a scorching chance at second slip from the next delivery. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 30 Aug 95 Career best innings encourages Caddick - Mike Beddow Second day of four (Worcs 121-1) trail Somerset (425) by 304 runs WHEN Worcestershire confirm Tom Moody`s appointment as their 1996 captain at a committee meeting tonight they might add a request: please bring a lucky coin next year. For the fifth consecutive championship match, they have had to field first, and for the fourth time, they are facing a score of more than 400, largely a result of an inspired batting perfor- mance by Andrew Caddick. This has been a rotten season for him in terms of a shin problem which has persisted since England`s last tour of the West Indies. He has made only six championship appearances but at least he will take fond memories of his batting against Worcestershire into the winter months. In June he scored his maiden century for Somerset in a Second XI game at Kidderminster, and yesterday he surpassed his highest first- class score for the second time in three matches, making 92 of the 142 runs added for the last three wickets. It was an innings of genuine quality enriched by many booming drives off the front foot, and there was an immense physical presence as he took 13 fours as well as a pick-up for six off Moody from an attack that has had too many maulings lately. In 2.5 hours Caddick received 137 balls and was so dominant that Jason Kerr made only 24 in a partnership of 117, the highest for Somerset`s eighth wicket against Worcestershire. The selfless Kerr reached 42 in 192 minutes until driving the workaholic, Phil Newport, to cover and Caddick, like Mushtaq be- fore him, was caught at long leg by substitute Scott Ellis. Somerset`s total is their highest in all championship matches in Worcestershire, but the latter had some consolation in that the day started and finished well. In the morning Moody announced that he has accepted a new three- year contract and in the final session Tim Curtis and Philip Wes- ton completed their third century opening stand of the season. Weston reached 1,000 runs in a season for the first time before he was caught behind. The bowler, of course, was Caddick. It was his day. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 3, 31 Aug 95 Moody turns the screw - Mike Beddow Third day of four: Worcs (574-4) lead Somerset (425) by 149 runs BY MID-afternoon yesterday, the most placid of pitches had yield- ed two centuries, each stamped with an individual trademark: Graeme Hick, urgent and forceful in making 128 from 176 balls; Tim Curtis, vigilant and accumulative for his 129 in 7.5 hours. Yet there was so much worse to come for Somerset. Tom Moody piled in with 155 off 156 balls and his partnership of 186 with David Leatherdale was made in only 34 overs during the final session. Worcestershire might have been expected to declare on taking max- imum batting points, but Moody was remorseless in both his cap- taincy and batting, hitting 18 fours and two sixes while helping his side to a lead of 149. The chances of dismissing Somerset for the second time must be limited. The two wickets that fell before tea yesterday followed a stand of 211. Graham Rose held a fierce drive from Hick in his follow-through and Mushtaq`s perseverance finally broke Curtis`s resolve with a push to silly point. Any hundred by Hick is an event for Worcestershire`s faithful and this - his 55th in the championship and 84th of his career - was as entertaining as most and was his seventh against Somerset. Ninety runs came in boundaries, 18 fours and three sixes, one of which caused much alarm when the ball struck a spectator on the forehead. Happily, the injury was not serious. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, 1 Sep 95 One landmark left for Radford - Mike Beddow Somerset (425 & 275-3) drew with Worcestershire (670-7 dec) THIS was a significant day in Worcestershire`s history, not only that they reached their highest total in 96 years in the County Championship but also with the announcement that Neal Radford is to be released after 11 seasons. At 38, and now in his benefit year after helping the county win six major titles, Radford is to leave the club on the understand- ing, said cricket committee chairman John Chadd, that "no-one can go on for ever". Though the county are about to sever another link with the Botham era of the late 1980s, it is to be hoped that Radford will be given an opportunity to complete 1,000 first-class wickets during the last two championship fixtures - he currently has 993. The pitch was virtually unmarked after four days and the only notable batting statistic that eluded Worcestershire was a fourth century-maker in an innings for the first time. David Leatherdale reached 81 in 117 balls and then departed, caught at slip, among two wickets in four deliveries for Andy Hayhurst. When Somerset batted again Peter Bowler, scored his sixth century of the season and Piran Holloway confirmed the inevitable with a stand of 190. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)