Trott too hot for Worcestershire

Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 61 ensured a win for the Bears

Jonathan Trott hit an undefeated half-century as Warwickshire maintained their unbeaten Twenty20 Cup record with a seven-wicket win over Worcestershire at New Road.

The 27-year-old made 61 not out as the Bears stormed to victory with 10 balls to spare in front of a 5,000 sell-out crowd.

It was the highest score by a Warwickshire batsman in the competition this season and easily enough to see off the Royals, who were restricted to a disappointing 141 for four.

His fine innings contained eight fours and took 49 deliveries.

After four matches each in the Midlands/West/Wales division, the Bears are now three points better off than their midlands rivals.

Worcestershire, after being put in, made an explosive start through Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick, but soon began to find life far more difficult.

Man-of-the-match Neil Carter was particularly effective for the Bears with his four overs costing a mere 14 runs.

His side began to tighten their grip after he broke an opening partnership of 44 in six overs between skipper Solanki and Hick, who equalled Graham Gooch’s all-time record of 1,195 appearances.

The 42-year-old veteran smashed four fours off nine balls before being deceived by a slower delivery from paceman Carter and was safely caught at mid-on by Chris Woakes.

Graeme Hick equalled the record for games played

Moeen Ali fell cheaply to a boundary catch by Jim Troughton off spinner Ant Botha before Solanki completed his second Twenty20 half-century of the campaign, with eight fours from 47 balls.

The next delivery, however, resulted in him being caught at long-off by Tim Groenewald off leg-spinner Ian Salisbury.

Salisbury, who finished with 2-24, also accounted for Stephen Moore with Ben Smith’s undefeated 36 being a valuable contribution, but not enough to give Warwickshire a more testing victory target.

After a smart reflex catch at short fine leg by Kabir Ali to dismiss Carter off Steve Magoffin, Trott and Troughton began to make healthy progress thanks, on occasion, to sloppy Worcestershire fielding.

Troughton had the distinction of hitting the game’s only six in the 30th over when he smacked Daryl Mitchell over the long-on ropes.

Shortly afterwards, however, Troughton was bowled by the fourth delivery fired down by Simon Jones, who was tasting his first Twenty20 Cup action.

He had put on 57 in seven overs with Trott who continued to prosper along with Tony Frost in a partnership during which they plundered 20 off one Jones over.

Their stand was worth 60 in seven overs when Hick held a fine catch at short cover to oust Frost for 27 off Solanki.