Worcestershire 360 and 237 for two (Kashif 133, Libby 75*) lead Warwickshire 333 (Barnard 89, Rhodes 64) by 265 runs

Kashif’s 110 first time spherical was fashionable work, however the South Asian Cricket Academy graduate surpassed it with a stunning 133 (128 balls) as Worcestershire amassed 237 for two to steer by 264 going into the ultimate day.

The Pears are scenting their first championship win at Edgbaston since 1993 after outplaying the house facet with bat and ball on day three.

Warwickshire misplaced their final 5 wickets for 27 to fold to 333 all out. That gave the guests a lead of 27 which they enhanced in extremely entertaining trend as Kashif struck 16 fours and 5 sixes, supported by Jake Libby (75 not out from137 balls).

Warwickshire resumed on the third morning on 292 for five, 68 behind, however their aspirations of buying a stable lead floundered because the final 5 wickets fell in 74 balls. The in a single day batters perished to the seventeenth and nineteenth balls of the day. Dan Mousley (62) flicked Joe Leach to mid-wicket and Michael Burgess missed a drive at Smith and his off-stump ended up planted within the floor two metres from the place it had began.

Smith trapped Michael Sales space lbw, Finch’s first ball of the day had Danny Briggs caught at slip and Jason Holder closed the innings along with his first wicket for Worcestershire when Chris Rushworth fended off a brief ball and Gareth Roderick dived ahead to take his 348th top quality catch.

Armed with a shock lead, Worcestershire had 45 minutes batting earlier than lunch and misplaced Roderick to the fifteenth ball, caught by wicketkeeper Burgess down the leg facet off Rushworth. Then, on a windy afternoon in Birmingham, Warwickshire’s bowlers had been blown away.

Libby batted with typical steadfastness whereas Kashif unfurled the glory. The 26-year-old’s first six, a pull off Sales space, left the bottom in a westerly route. His second, smote straight off Briggs, raised Worcestershire’s 100. His third, over mid-wicket off Ed Barnard, raised his personal century from 108 balls. Kashif is the primary Worcestershire participant to attain two centuries in a match at Edgbaston since Glenn Turner did so in 1972 in opposition to a Warwickshire assault together with debutant Bob Willis.

Many different strokes of authority, audacity and excessive class thrilled the spectators earlier than Kashif fell to a steepling catch by Sales space at long-leg. A number of Warwickshire gamers, to their credit score, shook the batter’s hand as he walked from the sphere. A big expertise had introduced itself in English cricket.

Kashif’s brilliance had set a platform for his facet to press house their benefit within the night session, however they had been denied the chance by rain which closed in to lop off the final 28 overs. With additional rain round tomorrow, Brett D’Oliviera’s facet could also be denied time to push for victory, however they’ve returned to Division One in fantastic fashion. Warwickshire’s new period, underneath the captaincy of Alex Davies, in the meantime, has made a lower than golden begin.