OPENER Daryl Mitchell has praised Worcestershire's "fantastic" results during the first half of the campaign which sees them occupying a top two spot after seven of their 14 Specsavers County Championship matches.

The County climbed into second spot and ahead of Kent after defeating their rivals in a memorable run chase at New Road yesterday.

They have won five matches and are just 26 points behind leaders Nottinghamshire and have a game in hand after the 22-point haul versus Kent.

Former skipper Mitchell, who has scored four hundreds in the last five Championship matches, said: "It's all about winning cricket matches.

"There seem to be a lot of wins and losses in Division Two in general.

"There don't seem to be many draws around. We haven't had any. We try and play positive cricket and try and win.

"Obviously, it doesn't always work out like that but to come out on the right side five times out of seven is fantastic and I don't think you could have asked for more at the start of the year."

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "I've always said if you get to mid August and you are in the top three, you are challenging.

"That's what you want to do going into those last five or six weeks of the season."

In all cricket so far this summer, Worcestershire have played 16 matches and won 11 of them, tying one and losing just four.