CAPTAIN Joe Leach felt his side’s showing in a heavy defeat at Hampshire proved Worcestershire belonged in the Specsavers County Championship Division One.

Newly-promoted Worcestershire lost the season opener by 196 runs after Fidel Edwards produced a whirlwind spell of bowling on the final day.

The West Indian fast bowler took 3-33, including two wickets in two balls, as the visitors were skittled for 127 with Daryll Mitchell (35), Joe Clarke (15) and Travis Head (45 not out) reaching double figures.

Leach admitted his team “deserved” to lose the game but reckoned the scoreboard “flattered” Hampshire “slightly”.

“We’ve had a quick chat and we’ve spoken about giving them spells in the game especially in the first session as (James) Vince got 70-odd,” Leach said.

“We didn’t bowl as well as we could do and we were always fighting back in the game.

“We felt we were 50 runs behind the game all the way through.

“There are little moments in the game which have cost us, but we have competed in a lot of the game and been on top in certain periods.

“Ultimately it wasn’t good enough but we live and learn.

“This might be a bizarre thing to say after a 196-run loss, but I’ve just told the group that this game reaffirmed to me that we deserve to be here and mix it in this division with these types of teams.

“We drove the game for large parts and not got it right in other parts, but that was the same in Division Two.

“If you don’t get it right for four days you don’t win games of cricket regardless of the standard of cricket.”