EVERGREEN opener Daryl Mitchell believes Worcestershire ‘won’t be far away’ in the battle to stay in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship if they reproduce the form evident in their last two matches.
The Pears’ four-day match against Hampshire at Blackfinch New Road began yesterday on the back of a superb victory against Yorkshire at Scarborough and a narrow defeat against Lancashire at Southport after a game they dominated for lengthy periods.
Worcestershire lie at the foot of the table but only nine points separate the bottom four teams heading into the final month of the season.
Mitchell said: “It was a game (at Southport) we thought we could have won but having said that, I don’t think we did much wrong on that last day.
“I think we played some good cricket for long periods, and we were probably the better side for seven of the nine sessions.
“Unfortunately that one partnership at the end (between Dane Vilas and Josh Bohannon) got away from us but sometimes you have to take your hat off and say ‘well played’ to the opposition.
“Obviously we were down, disappointed for the hour or so after the game – but then you realise, you’ve got to move on and, you look at the table, and we are still only a few points from safety.
“It is onto the next game and if we perform at the same level as we did at Scarborough and Southport, then we won’t be far away.”
Mitchell added: “We’ve got three out of the last four games at home and you know your conditions better than anyone else. But ultimately you’ve got to go and play your best cricket and perform well for long periods over the four days.
“It is an exciting month ahead of us with everything to play for in both the T20 and the four-day, format.”
