Hick hammers Somerset

Hick century was his first on a Sunday for two years

Norwich Union League D1, Taunton: Worcestershire (270-2 (40.2 overs) beat Somerset 269-8 (45 overs) by eight wickets

Match scorecard

Graeme Hick tore Somerset's bowlers apart with a thrilling century as Worcestershire got home with almost five overs to spare in the National League at Taunton.

Worcestershire had got off to a poor start chasing Somerset's imposing 269 for eight, losing pinch-hitter Andy Bichel in the second over.

However, Vikram Solanki continued his fine one-day form slapping 58 from just 51 balls as he and Hick put together a partnership worth 127 for the second wicket.

Solanki eventually fell to the bowling of Steffen Jones who conceded a massive 80 runs from his nine overs, but Hick kept on going.

Together with Ben Smith, who finished unbeaten on 64, Hick added the necessary 139 runs, taking his own total to 141 from 114 balls, including 17 fours and one six.

Earlier, Somerset would have been confident after half-centuries from Ian Blackwell Big-hitting Ian Blackwell, Michael Burns and Rob Turner helped them to their impressive total.

Andy Bichel took 2 for 34 for the Royals but three bowlers, including Academy hopefuls Gareth Batty and Kabir Ali conceded over 60 runs from their nine overs.

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Somerset: P D Bowler, I D Blackwell, K P Dutch, M Burns (Capt) K A Parsons, M J Wood, R J Turner (Wkt), P C L Holloway, G D Rose M P L Bulbeck, P S Jones.

Worcestershire: V S Solanki, S D Peters, G A Hick (Capt), B F Smith D A Leatherdale, G J Batty, A J Bichel, S J Rhodes (Wkt), Kabir Ali S R Lampitt, M S Mason.

Umpires: I J Gould and K J Lyons