County Championship: Worcestershire batsmen dominate day two v Yorkshire

Worcestershire's Daryl Mitchell brought up his century off 191 balls

Centuries from Moeen Ali and Daryl Mitchell put bottom club Worcestershire in a commanding position on a rain-affected second day against Yorkshire.

The visitors ended on 314-1, leading by 98 having bowled out the home side for 216 on day one in Scarborough.

Mitchell (140 not out) and England's Moeen (107 not out) have so far added 199 for the second wicket.

A short rain delay before tea halted the Pears' progress but they made it to the close without further loss.

Mitchell and Tom Fell had taken their opening stand up to 111 when Jack Brooks trapped the latter lbw for 45.

However, that proved to be Yorkshire's only breakthrough of the day.

Another big partnership cemented the visitors' strong position and Mitchell brought up his 33rd hundred for the county, lifting him up to seventh in the all-time list of century-makers for Worcestershire, above both Ron Headley and Tom Moody.

Making only his second Championship appearance of the season after being released from England's Test squad, Moeen made his first ton in first-class cricket for Worcestershire since April 2016.

Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon:

"It's been a tough two days. You can't fault the lads' efforts. The Worcester lads have played really well, but they have played and missed quite a bit.

"From a bowling perspective, the efforts have been excellent. We just haven't got our rewards. But clearly we're up against it.

"We'll bowl worse at times for more rewards, but that's cricket. You have to give credit to Mitchell and Moeen in particular.

"They were very strong in defence and scored when they could. They were very determined, but we didn't have much luck."

Daryl Mitchell told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"It certainly wasn't the prettiest hundred I've scored. It was satisfying on a tough wicket. There were periods when they bowled well and it did plenty.

"You had to dig in and grind your way through. I rode my luck at times. I certainly played and missed enough, but I think I earned it with the way I grafted. It was set up for the way I play. I'm a sort of nuggety opener.

"I learnt a bit from watching Kane (Williamson) bat, to play it late and let the ball come to you. It's not a pitch which is easy to drive on and hit through the line. The majority of my runs were behind square and on the leg-side.

"Mo was brilliant. It probably wasn't a typical Moeen Ali knock. He ground it out as well. A special mention to Tom Fell as well. He's not opened before, but he did a fantastic job."