WORCESTERSHIRE’S spin-king Saeed Ajmal tore through the Essex batting line-up for the second time in the match to give his side a sensational 72 run victory in the County Championship at New Road.
After the visitors were set 209 to win, the Pakistan off-spinner took a first-class best 7-19 and claimed match figures of 13-94 as Essex were bowled out for 136 mid-afternoon on day three.
Jack Shantry also chipped in with three wickets as only Ben Foakes (34) provided some late fight with the bat.
The win sends Steve Rhodes’ men back to the top of the LV= County Championship Division Two table with Hampshire still involved in their match against Leicestershire.
Resuming on 105-8, Worcestershire were soon all out for 120 as Matthew Salisbury bowled Ajmal without scoring and Joe Leach became Monty Panesar’s fifth wicket when he was trapped in front.
The Essex run chase then started brightly as they moved to 24 without loss, but Shantry then turned the game on its head by taking three quick wickets.
Ajmal also struck a crucial blow on the stroke of lunch as he bowled Greg Smith to leave the visitors 68-4 at the break.
After the interval Ajmal continued to bamboozle the batsmen as he took another three scalps in the first half-hour including the bizarre dismissal of Graham Napier who hit the ball into the foot of Daryl Mitchell at first-slip which then bounced into the hands of a grateful Ross Whiteley.
Foakes and Matthew Salisbury gave Essex a brief glimmer of hope by putting on 50 for the eighth-wicket before Ajmal trapped Salisbury lbw for 19.
The 36-year-old then dismissed Foakes and Monty Panesar in consecutive balls to claim his 500th first class wicket and earn Worcestershire one of their most memorable victories in recent years.
