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Inspired Lampitt lets rip

Worcs (162-3) bt Hants (161-9) by 7 wkts

Worcestershire are blessed with all-rounders in their pursuit of Yorkshire at the top of the National League: none better yesterday than Stuart Lampitt with three wickets in his first over; and none more versatile than their chief administrator.

Rev Michael Vockins is both county secretary and curate of Cradley with Mathon and Storridge. Yesterday he merged the two roles when sharing an outdoor pulpit at New Road with Lord Runcie in a thanksgiving service for 100 years of cricket at the ground.

Lord Runcie is said to have a soft spot for Worcestershire and his blessing was followed as he would have wished, by a dominant team display which cut Yorkshire's lead to four points.

Bottom-placed Hampshire offered little more than two stands of 49. Jason Laney and Derek Kenway laid a false trail; Dimitri Mascarenhas and Shaun Udal only partially overcame Lampitt's ripping spell of 9-1-18-4.

Laney was bowled by his first ball, Robin Smith speared the third to Vikram Solanki at backward point, Will Kendall went lbw to the fourth, and then Hampshire became 51 for four when Tom Moody took his first wicket since the World Cup final.

Steve Rhodes' 300th League dismissal gave Lampitt his fourth success, but Rhodes missed 301 as Mascarenhas made 55 before giving a fierce return catch to Gavin Haynes.

Worcestershire's task on a slow pitch might not have become entirely straightforward, but any restrictions were blown away by Moody's third successive half-century and a stand of 95 in 12 overs with Graeme Hick. Both reached 50 at quicker than a run a ball.