WORCESTERSHIRE went down by four wickets to Northamptonshire in the Second XI Championship at Kidderminster.

Ben Curran hit 161 for the visitors as they chased down a target of 384 at Chester Road to stun the hosts.

The County had held the upper hand for most of the game, opening with 406-5 declared.

Then after earning a first-innings lead of 147 Worcestershire raced to 236-2 declared in their second innings.

Skipper Ollie Westbury completed his third Championship hundred of the campaign.

But Curran, the brother of Surrey cricketers Sam and Tom, took his side to within 57 runs of victory before he was dismissed after striking 26 fours in his 204-ball innings.

The County bowlers stuck gamely to their task but Ben Coddington (58) and Ben Cotton (82 not out) gave Curran fine support with the bat.

Worcestershire had resumed on 182-1 and added another 54 runs in just 4.4 overs before the declaration which gave Northamptonshire 89 overs to chase their target.

Westbury ended unbeaten on 105 from 148 balls with 15 fours.

Josh Dell, who was on five overnight, raced to 49 from 40 deliveries with one six and seven fours before his dismissal was followed immediately by the declaration.

Adam Finch struck an early blow for Worcestershire when he had Charlie Home (1) caught behind with nine on the board.

But the majority of the remainder of the day was dominated by Curran who shared a second-wicket stand of 156 with Coddington before the latter was lbw to Andy Carter.

It became 187-3 when Carter bowled Ben Claydon (9) and Danny Davies (23) was caught behind off a Finch delivery.

Pat Brown finally ended Curran’s knock at 327-5 when he holed out to Nick Hammond at mid-off and then 25 runs later George Rhodes trapped Jack Potticary lbw.

But that was Worcestershire’s last success and Cotton’s 85-ball knock with one six and 12 fours saw Northamptonshire over the line.