Zaheer Khan failed to shine but his team Worcestershire achieved promotion to Division One of the English County Championship after a five-wicket victory over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on Saturday.

Chasing 205 for victory, Worcester reached the target even though England spinner Monty Panesar put a spanner in the works with second innings figures of five for 76, which gave him 10 wickets in the match on a turning pitch.

Skipper Vikram Solanki (50) and Stephen Moore (59) put on 69 for the second wicket and even after Panesar reduced them to 157 for five, the cool heads of Greame Hick (30) and Gareth

Batty (25) ensured that Worcestershire would play in the top division in the next season as a result of Essex going down at Leicestershire in another match.

Zaheer did not contribute much in the match, though, he claimed two wickets in the first innings and none in the second.

The victory was all the more creditable as the whole of the third day was washed out.

Northants began the last day at 24-0 in their second innings, leading by 58 and had cruised to 100-1 after an hour's play but Worcestershire's spinners forced a dramatic collapse with Zimbabwean Ray Price and Batty taking four wickets each.

The wicket of Usman Afzaal for 51 triggered a collapse as Northants' innings went into freefall.

It soon became 114-6 before the side folded for 143, leaving the hosts to chase a gettable total.