WORCESTERSHIRE captain Joe Leach has improved his position in the Professional Cricketers’ Association most valuable player rankings after leading his side to a memorable four-wicket victory over Kent in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two at New Road.

Worcestershire successfully chased down a target of 399 thanks to a fourth century in five championship matches from opener Daryl Mitchell, the PCA Chairman, and two centuries in the match from Joe Clarke.

But Leach also played his part by contributing a valuable half century in the first innings and taking seven wickets in the match to finish with a haul of 37 rankings points.

Leach has now moved to sixth in this season’s overall PCA MVP on 254 points across all formats, 60 behind leader Darren Stevens, the Kent all-rounder.

Leach is even better placed in the championship rankings having climbed to fourth on 180 points, 11 behind third-placed Kumar Sangakkara, Surrey’s former Sri Lanka batsman, and 52 behind Hampshire paceman Kyle Abbott, the leader.

The PCA MVP rankings system identifies the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season.

The formula takes into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy and strike-rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken.

Mitchell is now up to 12th in the overall rankings on 215 points, 23 of them from his 142 against Kent which made up 35 per cent of Worcestershire’s run chase.

Clarke finished the Kent match with 44 rankings points – 25 of them for his first innings 142 which comprised 42 per cent of Worcestershire’s total – and he is now 76th in both the overall and championship PCA MVP.

Seamer Ed Barnard is 45th in the overall rankings on 149 points with Brett D’Oliveira 61st with 135 points, John Hastings 69th, Ben Cox 70th, Josh Tongue 84th.

In the Championship rankings, Mitchell has moved into 14th place on 137 points with Tongue 31st on 103 and Barnard 55th on 88 points.