NEW signing Thomas Dangarembizi was influential with both the bat and ball in a positive season opener for Worksop.

A tally of 62 and four wickets for just 16 runs helped Worksop to a winning draw in their first game of the new season.

Captain Luke Ambrose lost the toss and was asked to bat first.

In early season conditions batting was not easy and Worksop soon lost two wickets but Dangarembizi was looking in great form and along with Ambrose steadily started to progress the innings.

With the score on 102-2 Worksop looked in a great position having wickets in hand to post a very good score but when Dangarembizi was out caught for a very good 62 and captain Luke Ambrose followed shortly for 17, a minor collapse took the score to 107-7.

Worksop were now under pressure to post a total but thanks to an intelligent innings from the experienced Mark Ambrose, 25 not out, and well supported by Dean Randle, 10 not out, Worksop posted 152-7 after 46 overs.

Worksop needed to bowl well to defend this total and got off to a great start with opening bowlers Dean Randle 1-17 and John Smith 1-16 bowling a great line and making it hard for the Blidworth batsmen to score.

Spinner Dangarembizi was introduced to the attack and started with a double-wicket maiden, which put the game in Worksop's favour.

He continued to bowl tight to finish with the fine figures of 4-16 and was supported well at the other end by left arm spinner Dave Hancocks, 1-30.

With Blidworth losing wickets at regular intervals the target got beyond them and they batted out for a losing draw.

A good performance by Worksop for the first game of the season, only slightly marred by an inability to get the last two wickets to get a maximum 20 points.