Hick sees Worcs home

Graeme Hick's unbeaten 57 carried Worcestershire to a seven-wicket win at Edgbaston

An unbroken century stand between Graeme Hick and Ben Smith powered Worcestershire to a seven-wicket victory in their NatWest Pro40 Division One clash against Sussex at Edgbaston.

The pair put on 110 after Royals skipper Vikram Solanki had laid the solid foundations with a fine 55.

Hick made an unbeaten 57 and Smith 43 not out to give Worcestershire a welcome boost following the severe flooding problems at New Road which forced the match to be switched to neighbouring Warwickshire’s headquarters.

Solanki cracked two sixes and seven fours to put his side on the road to reaching a 201 victory target with four overs to spare.

His efforts, coupled with determined knocks by Hick and Smith, enabled Worcestershire to secure their first win of the season in a competition which began with their opening match against Hampshire being washed out after it was switched to Derby.

After figuring in a half-century stand with fellow opener Phil Jaques, Solanki also lost the companionship of young Moeen Ali before being run out by wicket-keeper Andrew Hodd.

His removal, however, paved the way for Hick to plunder one six and six fours off 60 deliveries.

It was a disappointing start to the campaign for Sussex, who, after winning the toss, subsided to 200 all out after being a healthy 178 for three at one stage.

Their decline was hastened by spinners Ray Price and Gareth Batty, and Kabir Ali, who each claimed three wickets.

Sussex’s tally was lifted by a fine century stand between Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie for the second wicket.

They put on 106 in 21 overs after Chris Nash had been dismissed off the third ball, easily caught at mid-off by Batty off Kabir.

His rapid departure set the scene for Goodwin and Montgomerie to go on and compile well-earned half centuries.

Goodwin made 52, including one six and five fours off 62 balls, before he top-edged a sweep off Price to Roger Sillence at short fine-leg.

Montgomerie fell for 65, containing eight fours off 80 deliveries, before offering a leg-side catch to wicket-keeper Steven Davies off Kabir.

Skipper Chris Adams chipped in with 43 off 40 balls before he was caught by Jaques running in from deep mid-wicket off Price, a departure which heralded the start of Sussex’s steady slide.

Michael Yardy and Mushtaq Ahmed perished in one Batty over before Hodd fell victim to Price thanks to a comfortable catch at long-off by Graeme Hick.

Batty accounted for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Saqlain Mushtaq was removed by Kabir before Robin Martin-Jenkins was run out off the last ball of the innings.

Price (3-27) and Batty (3-47) produced their best one-day figures of the season, while Kabir finished with 3-30.