Worcestershire v Surrey: Hosts win to seal promotion at New Road

Worcestershire left-armer Jack Shantry had never before taken 10 wickets in a first-class match

Worcestershire won promotion to Division One for the fifth time in 12 years as Jack Shantry inspired an unlikely 27-run win over Surrey.

Chasing 217 to win, Surrey, one of Worcester's main promotion rivals, were well set just before lunch on 106-1.

But after Vikram Solanki departed for 58, Surrey collapsed to 189 all out.

Shantry took 4-44 to earn the first 10-wicket haul of his career before the dramatic run-out of Surrey opener Zafar Ansari, last man out for 64.

It completed a marvellous 24 hours for Shantry, the Shropshire lad having hit his maiden century just a day earlier to give Worcestershire a chance of winning this match.

Moeen Ali, who spilled a return catch from Ansari on 63, with 38 still needed, weighed in with 3-63 on a wearing final-day wicket in what, given England's commitments next year, might prove his last game at New Road for some time.

Ansari, whose defiance at The Oval in June had also cost Worcestershire a likely victory, had batted for four hours and 44 minutes as wickets fell at the other end. But eventually, after driving to mid-on, he was run out by a direct hit from Alexei Kervezee.

It was Worcestershire's eighth win in 15 Championship games - of which they have won three in six matches without their star turn Saeed Ajmal.

The Pakistan spinner inspired the rise of Steve Rhodes' side to the top of the table when he took 63 wickets in nine matches.

Since his departure in mid-July, and his subsequent suspension by the International Cricket Council for a suspect action, Worcestershire have wobbled, losing their previous two matches.

And, at lunch on the final day, it looked as if the Division Two promotion race would go right to the final week of the season for Worcestershire.

But, after Charlie Morris bowled Solanki, Shantry inspired one of cricket's great turnarounds.

They made sure of Division One cricket next summer - serving up a fitting tribute to the memory of former Academy director Damian D'Oliveira, to whom the players dedicated their triumph.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"I've gone through so many emotions over these few days really. I've never been as nervous in all my life.

"When we lost Alan Richardson in the winter, everyone said 'you are not going to do anything, you've lost your best bowler' and Moeen has not been here for a lot of year. But these boys have worked their nuts off all season and there have been some special performances from all of them.

"For the lads to pull this off has been special. But there is one bloke who we should really pay tribute to for this promotion and that's Damian D'Oliveira. It was so very sad in the middle of the season. The boys took it quite bad, so we are dedicating this promotion to Damian."

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"It's quite special, especially the way we've turned this game round over the last 24 hours.

"It will be harder in the top flight, but it will be lovely to have some of the bigger teams like Warwickshire coming to New Road again.

"All the lads deserve a huge amount of credit for the work they've put in this summer. They've now got a week before our next game and I'm sure they'll want to celebrate."

Surrey captain Gary Wilson told BBC London 94.9:

"Credit to Worcestershire. They put in a big performance, but I think it was our game to lose, to be perfectly honest.

"We didn't bat as well as we could have, by a long way, apart from Zafar and Vik, and that's very difficult to take. To be only two down for 120, you'd expect to go on and finish the game off.

"Zafar's been brilliant all year and again he showed what a class performer he is but, unfortunately for us, no-one could hang on with him."

BBC London 94.9's Mark Church:

"Surrey will wonder in the cold light of day how they managed to end up losing this game from 122-2 at lunch and seemingly in control of their run chase.

"Jack Shantry's golden game continued as he took four wickets after the interval and all credit to Worcestershire, who secured promotion.

"For Surrey, their faint hopes of promotion have now disappeared and they will concentrate on trying to finish the season in a positive manner against Derbyshire, starting on Monday."