MOEEN Ali suffered the indignity of becoming the first bowler hit for six by Boyd Rankin in first-class cricket as Warwickshire built a strong position on the third day of their LV= County Championship Division One match with Worcestershire.

England’s spinner was not spared as the visitors ran into a riotous record unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 114 by Rankin and Chris Wright which delighted the Edgbaston faithful and left the visitors facing a tall victory target of 437.

Rankin struck an unbeaten 56, his maiden half-century, from 100 balls and celebrated that first six off Moeen with two more off Sachitra Senanayake and Alex Kervezee respectively.

Wright contributed a classy unbeaten 61 off 97 balls to build on a foundation diligently laid by captain Varun Chopra’s 18th first-class century.

That left Worcestershire a daunting target of 437 to win and they closed on 88-2 having suffered a big blow just before the close.

Moeen moved to 33, including four exquisite off-side fours in one Rikki Clarke over, but then edged left-armer Keith Barker to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Warwickshire resumed in the morning on 105 for two and were pegged back by Joe Leach who quickly added two wickets to his six in the first innings as three wickets fell for 19 runs in 32 balls.

Leach had Laurie Evans caught at second slip and Ambrose taken at leg slip before Clarke fired a return catch to Charlie Morris.

Chopra (107), playing with great care, and Barker added 66 but when, just after lunch, Jeetan Patel was stumped off Senanayake, Warwickshire were 207-8, effectively 207-9 with Sam Hain unable to bat due to a shoulder injury.

But as the visitors’ three specialist seamers tired, Wright and Rankin took full advantage to set a new county ninth-wicket record partnership against Worcestershire, surpassing the 98 by Piran Holloway and Allan Donald at Edgbaston in 1992.

After the declaration at tea, Worcestershire went into bat needing 437 in a day and 32 overs and started well as Daryl Mitchell and Richard Oliver added 52 in 13.

Patel struck with his fifth ball when Oliver, having batted well for 33 from 42 balls rather gave it away with a leading-edge to mid-off.

Moeen got off the mark with a straight six off Patel but perished in the lengthening shadows late on and Worcestershire will need skipper Mitchell (16 not out) to continue his vigil deep into the last day.