OPENER Daryl Mitchell starred with 127 for relegated Worcestershire as they scored 319-8 on the first day of the final game of the season against Yorkshire.

The visitors made sure of their County Championship Division One status for 2019 at Blackfinch New Road.

Yorkshire needed two more points to stay up which was achieved when Ed Barnard fell lbw to Somerset-bound paceman Jack Brooks in the 84th over after they opted to bowl via an uncontested toss.

Mitchell completed his fourth Championship ton of the campaign, following up his 178 in last month’s innings victory at Scarborough before being eighth out at 270-8.

Worcestershire are playing for only pride after defeat against Essex at Chelmsford confirmed their relegation after one season in the top flight.

But their batsmen dug in and made Yorkshire work for the six wickets needed to stave off the threat of going down.

Tim Bresnan made the only breakthrough of the morning when Tom Fell (19) was squared up by the ex-England seamer and provided Jack Leaning with a straightforward catch at third slip.

England's Moeen Ali was greeted with warm applause in his first appearance for the County since leading them to their first Vitality Blast trophy success.

He ensured left-arm spinner and Yorkshire debutant James Logan’s introduction into the attack was a chastening one with a six over long-on and then a slog sweep brought the same result.

Moeen, who had scored a double century at Scarborough, completed a 69-ball half-century.

Mitchell had an escape on 43 when dropped by keeper Jonathan Tattersall off Brooks.

But Tom Kohler-Cadmore made no mistake when Moeen (60) went for a pull off Yorkshire skipper Steven Patterson and top-edged through to his former team-mate.

The Moeen-Mitchell stand was worth 102 in 27 overs.

Joe Clarke, in his final match before joining Nottinghamshire, was given a searching examination.

The England Lions batsman made just eight from 46 balls before he aimed a drive at Brooks and was bowled.

That secured the first point for the visitors and then Alex Milton (1) tentatively pushed forward to Ben Coad and fell to a sharp low catch by Kohler-Cadmore.

A fourth wicket of the afternoon session was accrued when Ben Cox was (9) was lbw to Books.

Barnard (34) kept Mitchell company in a stand of 88 in 24 overs before his dismissal to Brooks eased any Yorkshire fears.

Brooks made it two wickets in two balls as Wayne Parnell (0) was pouched at second slip and then Mitchell’s resistance ended when he holed out to deep mid-wicket off the same bowler.

His 252-ball knock contained 17 fours.

An unbroken stand of 49 between Ben Twohig and Josh Tongue carried the County to a third batting point.