Curtis helps county side

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 35

Curtis helps county side

NZPA-Reuter London Worcestershire survived a rare failure from Graeme Hick to maintain its chance of clinching the English county cricket championship title against Gloucestershire at Worcester yesterday. Worcester, needing 23 points to be sure of retaining the title, collected two batting bonus points but were indebted to the discarded England opener, Tim Curtis, who made a marathon 98 out of his side’s 240 for eight in 95 overs. Apart from Curtis, who hit 11 fours, no-one else topped 30 as the Gloucester bowlers held the upper hand for most of a gloomy day. Hick was lbw for 19. Second-placed Essex was held up by Surrey’s Alec Stewart as it sought to close the 26-point gap at the top. Stewart hit 120 to strengthen his claims for inclusion as a wicketkeeper-batsman on England’s tour to the West Indies as Surrey struggled to 225 for eight before bad light ended play 28 overs early. The West Indian fast bowler, Winston Benjamin, caused Derbyshire problems at Leicester, taking two wickets in his first over of the morning. Derbyshire recovered slightly to 159 for seven by the close. Sussex’s lan Gould scored his first century for two years as Sussex surged to 430 all out against Hampshire having been reduced to three for two in the first over. Gould made 125 and Alan Wells and Tony Pigott both hit 91 in quick time. Ashley Metcalfe lifted Yorkshire’s sagging morale with an unbeaten 84 out of his side’s 178 for three on a shortened day against Warwickshire at Headingley.