Kyle Abbott makes quick work of Worcestershire, and Hampshire leap to second

After defeating Worcestershire by 235 runs, Kyle Abbott set Hampshire up for their best Vitality County Championship since 2005.

Abbott claimed five wickets for 36, his fourth five-wicket haul of the season, by taking four of the final five Worcestershire wickets.

With one more match left to play, Hampshire will close off the season at Taunton next week, where James Vince’s team previously finished as runners-up under Shane Warne’s captaincy. Hampshire amassed maximum points to go past Somerset and into second position.

On the last day, Worcestershire needed 277 extra runs to win, but they could only hold on until 11.30am when Abbott went on the rampage.

In the sixth over of the day, Kyle Abbott struck when he slid a short delivery into Ethan Brookes’ ribcage.

The centurion tried to pull in the first innings, but it dragged off his glove and fell to Toby Albert at leg slip, who made an incredible diving catch.

Abbott’s second wicket in two overs came from Jake Libby, who had made a patient half-century the night before. He only added two more runs.

In order to take an inside edge onto the pad and to Vince at the first slip, the South African made a considerable inward shift.

After Logan van Beek had turned down a single, Albert performed his second masterful fielding performance of the morning, ending Joe Leach’s penultimate Championship appearance with a run-out.

Tom Taylor batted at number eleven with a runner, but he was only able to last six balls before he edged Abbott behind due to some Amar Virdi swinging.

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Abbott concluded the match an hour into day four, with the hosts being bowled out for 158, giving him 46 scalps in the Championship thus far this season.