Joe Leach made a triumphant comeback from injury, claiming six wickets to help Worcestershire seize control of their crucial County Championship clash against Kent at New Road.
Leach, who plans to retire at the season's end due to ongoing knee issues, delivered a remarkable performance with figures of 6-52 from 11.5 overs, marking the second-best haul of his career. His efforts were instrumental in dismissing Kent, the league's bottom team, for a mere 171 runs.
In response, Worcestershire cruised to 137-2 by the close of play, with opener Gareth Roderick unbeaten on 53, setting the stage for a potentially decisive first-innings lead.
The home side welcomed back captain Brett D’Oliveira, Kashif Ali, and Adam Finch after lengthy injury absences. Kent, meanwhile, featured their two new signings, West Indian Akeem Jordan and Somerset loanee Alfie Ogborne. However, the day belonged to Leach, who was making his first appearance since late May against Nottinghamshire. His determination to return and help Worcestershire retain their place in Division One paid off in spectacular fashion.
After a shaky start where he conceded 26 runs in his first four overs, Leach found his rhythm in his second spell from the New Road End. He quickly dismantled Kent’s promising start by taking three wickets in the span of 13 balls, turning their 73-0 into a collapse of 10 wickets for just 98 runs over 32.4 overs.
New Zealand paceman James Hartshorn also impressed on his debut, maintaining a tight line and length after being brought in from Sussex League cricket to cover for the injured Nathan Smith. The bowlers were well-supported by some sharp catching in the slips, particularly by Rob Jones, who took four catches at second slip.
Roderick’s half-century then guided Worcestershire’s strong reply, leaving them trailing by just 34 runs with eight wickets still in hand, setting up a promising position heading into the next day’s play.