Worcestershire Rapids' Kashif Ali hits half century in win over Leicestershire Foxes

Kashif, the first product of the South Asian Cricket Association to sign a pro contract with a first class county, again demonstrated his potential with a sparkling 69 as Worcestershire recovered from 30-3.

Leicestershire reached 70-1 in the 10th over and looked to have laid the foundations for a worthy pursuit of a 184 target.

But Rapids Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, Michael Bracewell and Usama Mir all picked up two wickets apiece and bowled tightly with combined figures of 11-0-72-6.

It means the Rapids have won their opening three games while in contract the Foxes have been beaten in their opening trio of fixtures.

Mir has ended his brief and successful spell at New Road and will return to playing league cricket for Colwyn Bay.

But will be replaced by Mitchell Santner who flies in tomorrow after being part of the Chennai Super Kings IPL squad.

The Rapids got off to a shaky start after captain Brett D’Oliveira opted to bat.

Bracewell lasted only three balls before he was trapped lbw by a full length ball from Naseem Shah when working to leg.

D’Oliveira took a stride down the wicket in the next over from Wiaan Mulder and only succeeded in nicking through to keeper Harry Swindells

Jack Haynes immediately went on the offensive with four boundaries in Shah’s second over before was lbw deep in his crease to Mulder.

Kashif Ali mixed some wristy strokes with sheer power as he and in form Adam Hose set about rebuilding the innings.

They added 45 when Hose, who had top-scored in the wins over Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings, tried to slice Callum Parkinson over the off side and fell to Colin Ackermann’s catch running back from cover.

A pull for six and a delightful cut to the ropes in the same over from Reehan Ahmed enabled Kashif to complete a 33 ball half century.

Shah’s return to the attack brought about Kashif’s downfall when he found the hands of deep backward square.

In the same over, Ed Pollock was run out first ball by Ackermann’s direct hit from mid on.

But Usama Mir profited from being dropped being he had scored to plunder an unbeaten 32 from 15 balls and Ben Cox struck a typically breezy 28 as Worcestershire recovered from their early troubles.

When Leicestershire batted, Bracewell struck an early blow when Sol Budinger clubbed a delivery straight to Hose at deep mid wicket.

But Nick Welch scored freely and crucially Leicestershire kept wickets in hand, losing only one in the powerplay.

D’Oliveira brought himself into the attack and made a double breakthrough in the space of four balls.

Welch was pouched at long on by Haynes and Ackermann was bowled via an inside edge and his pad.

Rishi Patel hurried to 42 but, having hit the previous two deliveries from Usama Mir for four, he gave his wicket away when charging down the pitch and being stumped.

The Pakistan leg spinner’s final over of his current spell at New Road also yielded a wicket when Arron Lilley was leg before aiming a blow over mid wicket.

Mulder and Rehan Ahmed fell cheaply to end Leicestershire’s last hopes and then Pat Brown wrapped up the tail as he showed more encouraging signs of returning to his best form.

Worcestershire batter Kashif Ali, who top-scored with 69, paid tribute to the contribute of Pakistan leg spinner Usama Mir who has played the opening three games as a replacement for Mitchell Santner.

He said: “Usama is a Pakistan superstar. The way he has played these three games has been really good and the boys loved having him here. It’s always handy having someone like him in the team whether it is with bat or ball. I know how much he wanted to play county cricket and he’s made a big impact.”