Yorkshire axed Darren Gough and then put Worcestershire in to bat at New Road yesterday, two decisions which they were left to ponder as the Championship's Second Division leaders rattled up 309-5 on a good pitch.

The day's play strengthened Worcestershire's grip at the top of the table but it reduced Yorkshire's chances of going on to win the game and so continue their push for promotion.

Director of cricket Geoff Cope insisted that there were no 'sinister motives' behind omitting Gough and said that he would be up for selection for the final match of the season next week.

But the fact remains that three other seamers were preferred to Gough who must be wondering what future he has left in the game, particularly after being snubbed by England earlier in the week when they did not include him in the one-day squad for the forthcoming tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Gough briefly fielded substitute for Craig White early in the day but later went home after Joe Sayers had been called up to do 12th man duties.

Whether Gough's presence would have made much difference on a good batting track is debatable, but Anthony McGrath's decision to field first looked unwise as Worcestershire flourished with a sparkling century from captain Ben Smith and an obdurate career-best 99 from 20-year-old Kadeer Ali.

Yorkshire achieved an early success when Graeme Hick continued his dreadful season by nudging Matthew Hoggard to Richard Dawson at first slip for seven but Stephen Peters and Kadeer - playing alongside his cousin, Kabir Ali - gave an indication of things to come with a hard-hitting partnership of 67.

It was broken with the introduction of spinner Richard Dawson who bowled Peters with his second delivery as the batsman attempted to hit across the line.

Smith, whose only previous century for his new county was on the opening day of the season, began with a flurry of crisp drives off Steven Kirby and he continued to hit everything off the middle of a broad bat in a wonderful exhibition of strokeplay.

Kadeer was in an unflappable mood and although both batsmen were on 71 at one stage, Smith dashed on to his century, while Kadeer remained stuck in his 70s for an hour.

The pair put on 125 together between lunch and tea and the stand had reached 182 - Worcestershire's highest for the third wicket against Yorkshire - when Smith was lbw to Kirby for 110 from 167 balls with 21 boundaries.

Kadeer also got himself wedged in the 90s and was just one short of a thoroughly deserved maiden century when he tried to glance Chris Silverwood and brushed a legside catch off his glove to Richard Blakey. He had received 287 balls and struck 14 fours.

Hoggard briefly left the field after bowling one over with the new ball and it was Kirby, who took over from, him who bowled Anurag Singh for 17 shortly before the close.

Updated: 11:35 Saturday, September 13, 2003