DARYL Mitchell says passing 10,000 first-class runs for Worcestershire “will mean more” than reaching the combined landmark in his career for all the teams he has played for.

Skipper Mitchell went to the latter figure with the second of his two centuries in the record-breaking win against Northamptonshire at New Road.

But that tally included included 339 runs for Mountaineers in South Africa and another 63 for the MCC against Yorkshire in the UAE 18 months ago.

After the game with Essex last week, Mitchell’s first-class total for Worcestershire stands at 9,712.

He said: “You don’t ever really set out to score a set amount of runs in your career but it was nice to pass that.

“I think 10,000 first-class runs for Worcestershire will probably mean a little more.

“There are probably not that many who have done that and this is my home county, so it would be special.

“That is a record I will cherish a little more than just passing 10,000 in total.”

The 32-year-old showed his class with the two tons against Northants but admits he has not been as prolific as he would have wanted in his benefit year with the County.

He said: “It has been strange really. I haven’t particularly felt out of nick all year really.

“I obviously haven’t got the amount of runs I would have liked, particularly in the four-day format.

“But I felt like I struck the ball pretty well in T20 cricket and my strike-rates were right up there. I played a couple of important knocks, particularly at the back end of that competition.

“That was pleasing. Then under pressure against Notts in the One-Day Cup, having lost a wicket early, Felly (Tom Fell) and I put on a big partnership, which was really important to us, and we kept in front of Duckworth-Lewis.”

In terms of how his season has mapped out, Mitchell said: “It has been a mixture of things.

“There have been some good balls in there, a couple of dodgy decisions maybe, some pretty ordinary decisions on my part as well, poor shot selection at times.

“I’ve been caught in the ring (close in) more often than I ever have before and you have only got yourself to blame for those.

“But I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes things go for you and sometimes they go against you.

“It’s all about working hard, doing the right things and eventually it will turn and you will get the runs you deserve.”

Mitchell has experienced a hectic nine months with being captain, opening batsman and a father of two young children in addition to his benefit year functions.

He said: “It’s been full-on, that’s for sure. I’ve generally enjoyed it. My committee have been brilliant and put a lot of hard work in on my behalf.

“A lot of the events have been really good fun and I’ve enjoyed meeting a few different people. There are still some great events to look forward to.”

Meanwhile, Worcestershire academy ended their 2016 season in fine style with a 105-run victory over their Warwickshire counterparts at Harborne.

Opener George Balderson scored a half-century for the County in helping them to reach 277-9 from 50 overs.

Then fine bowling by spinner Aaron Tomson (5-32) and medium pacer Mahaaz Ahmed (3-11) helped dismiss Warwickshire for 172 in 40.1 overs.

Balderson shared in partnerships of 65 with Dan Holland (30) and 62 with Ed Bragg (31) for the second and third wickets.

He was out for 58 off 77 balls with seven fours before five wickets went down for 25 runs.

Tomson (36) and Louis Botes (27) added 62 for the eighth wicket and there was a late flourish of 25 not out by Matt Davis.