Worcs batsmen make hay

Phil Jaques plays a pull shot on Wednesday against Surrey

Stephen Moore, Phil Jaques and Vikram Solanki hammered impressive centuries for Worcestershire in their bottom-of-the-table LV County Championship Division One match against Surrey at New Road.

Moore led the way with 143 while Jaques made 124 and Solanki 109 not out to help power the hosts to 446 for two off 104 overs at the close.

Openers Moore and Jaques set the scene by putting on 234 in 60 overs to give their side a solid start in their bid to open their victory account in the top flight.

Surrey, who have also failed to win this season after being promoted along with Worcestershire last year, were also put to the sword by Ben Smith who made an undefeated 53.

Jaques and Moore took full advantage of skipper Solanki winning the toss in a Championship match for the first time this season.

In their previous five games they have been forced to bat second and on a number of occasions faced mountainous first innings totals by their opponents - including 610 for six declared, 521 for seven declared and 512 for eight declared against Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Sussex respectively.

This time, however, the boot was firmly on the other foot with Jaques and Moore immediately signalling their intention to prosper from Worcestershire’s chance to build a big first innings tally of their own.

Worcestershire’s chance to build a big first innings tally of their own.

Batsman Stephen Moore was on top form

Both began in watchful mood with Moore taking eight overs before managing to get off the mark with a boundary.

Jaques was marooned on three for a lengthy period before finally moving into double figures after just over an hour.

Their cautious approach, however, began to pay off handsomely as they completed their first opening stand in the Championship since piling up 168 against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay last August.

At lunch, Moore was leading Worcestershire’s quest for welcome runs by reaching 63 with Jaques on 42.

After the interval it was a different story with Australian left-hander Jaques rattling along to a century off 126 deliveries with two sixes and 14 fours. His second 50 came off just 29 balls.

Moore went on to register his first Championship century since September 2005, brought up with a boundary off paceman Matthew Nicholson. It contained 19 fours and came off 192 deliveries.

Jaques, a century-maker in Worcestershire’s eight-wicket win over Warwickshire in the Friends Provident Trophy at New Road on Sunday, finally fell when he edged Nicholson to wicket-keeper Jonathan Batty after hitting two sixes and 17 fours off 165 balls.

Moore then found another reliable partner in Solanki, who was also fresh from a blistering century against Warwickshire on Sunday.

They put on 95 in 20 overs before Moore’s reign came to an end when he pushed forward to spinner Chris Schofield and was smartly stumped by Batty after collecting one six and 23 fours off 255 balls.

Solanki reached three figures with the second of two sixes which accompanied the 15 fours he clouted off 113 deliveries.

Worcestershire’s success at stacking up runs at the top of the order delayed Graeme Hick’s bid to notch the 64 runs he needs to reach a first-class career total of 40,000.