Hick's heroics to no avail

Worcs fell short despite Graeme Hick's bullish 63

Record-breaker Graeme Hick finished on the losing side as Worcestershire slipped to a 10-run defeat against Somerset in the Twenty20 Cup at New Road.

The 42-year-old, who broke Graham Gooch’s all-time record of 1,195 appearances, top scored for the Royals, who were restricted to 166 for six in their pursuit of 177.

Hick scored 63, including two sixes and five fours, before he became one of paceman Alfonso Thomas’ career-best haul of four for 27.

Thomas’ heroics enabled the Sabres to register their second victory in a row while Worcestershire have now lost three of their five games.

After winning the toss Somerset compiled 176 for seven, with Peter Trego top scoring with 47.

The Sabres made a healthy recovery after losing openers Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick inside the opening five overs.

Both fell to paceman Kabir Ali, who struck first by forcing Langer onto the back foot and having him caught behind by Steve Davies after hitting five fours off 12 balls.

Kabir then followed up by removing Trescothick - who played on for just 11.

Somerset responded well with a 79-run stand in 10 overs between Trego and Ian Blackwell, although the partnership was finally broken when spinner Gareth Batty ousted Trego with his first delivery thanks to a low catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Hick.

Trego’s effort contained one six and seven fours off 37 balls before Kabir’s mid-wicket catch removed Blackwell for 43 off Daryl Mitchell.

Kabir, who finished with three for 30, also saw off Omari Banks with former New Road all-rounder Zander de Bruyn falling to ex-Somerset campaigner Gareth Andrew, who also removed Craig Kieswetter for a valuable 32 off 17 deliveries.

Worcestershire’s hopes of launching their run chase with a prosperous opening stand soon evaporated when skipper Vikram Solanki offered a sharp return catch to Charl Willoughby after putting on 20 in three overs with Hick.

Davies also fell cheaply when he drove spinner Banks straight to Langer before Hick and Ben Smith improved the Royals fortunes with a 60-run partnership in seven overs.

It ended when Smith was bowled by Thomas, who turned the screw on Worcestershire by ripping out Hick and Kabir in successive deliveries before adding Stephen Moore to his collection.