Hick issues timely reminder as Royals steal a march on Sabres

Graeme Hick hit the 36th one-day century of his career as Worcestershire Royals marched to victory over Somerset Sabres in the first Division of the Norwich Union League at Taunton.

The Sabres had set Worcestershire Royals a challenging 270 to win in their 45 overs, but Hick's unbeaten 141, supported by 58 from Vikram Solanki and 64 not out from Ben Smith saw the Royals cross the line with almost five overs to spare.

The victory leaves Royals level on points with Warwickshire Bears at the top of the first division of the Norwich Union League, and Somerset anxiously contemplating a relegation battle in the remainder of the season.

The Sabres' 269-8 from 45 overs was built on a fine all round team performance, with three batsmen hitting brisk half-centuries.

Mike Burns, captain once again in place of the injured Jamie Cox and England's Marcus Trescothick, won the toss and elected to bat. He would have been happy with his side's start too, with Peter Bowler and young Matt Wood posting 45 for the first wicket before Bowler was lbw half forward to Bichel.

Ian Blackwell accelerated for the Sabres, giving an exhibition of the awesome power that will surely take him into the international side sooner rather than later. Seven fours, and a straight six off Gareth Batty threatened to take the game away from the visitors. But the bowler responded by bowling the burly left-hander when he tried to pull a ball too full for the shot and Parsons and Holloway struggled to cope with the experience of Stuart Lampitt as the Royals fought their way back into the game.

But Burns continued the momentum with a run-a-ball 50, also striking the off-spin of Batty over long-off for a six.

When he was sixth out for 54 with the total at 226 and Dutch followed moments later it looked as though the Sabres innings might fall away. But Malvern-born Robbie Turner, who chose this match as his benefit game, will have done himself no harm when the collecting buckets came round, with a fine and selfless 53 from 45 balls.

He had endured a slightly uncomfortable start, but made use of a short boundary towards the end, clipping Kabir Ali through mid-wicket and denting the figures of Aussie Andy Bichel and Anglo-Aussie Matt Mason in the final overs.

The Royals reply started poorly too, with Bichel fencing at a short ball to offer a comfortable slip catch and raising home supporter's hopes.

But Hick loves batting at Taunton. It was here, 14 years ago, that he struck 405 not out and the small boundary and true pitches are meat and drink to him.

The statistics of his innings tell the story; two sixes and 17 fours in a 114-ball exhibition of murderous stroke-play. All the bowlers suffered, with Steffan Jones conceding 80 from nine overs, including a straight six towards the end that had members of the press box scrambling for cover. Hick's 100 came up in just 81 balls, and, on a day when England's batsmen failed to chase a total, it was a timely reminder of his World Cup worth.

In truth though, the bowling was pretty disappointing and the fielding little better. A depleted attack had whatever confidence they may have had shaken out of them as Hick allowed no room at all for error. Short balls were pulled with frightening power, and anything over-pitched was driven faultlessly.

Vikram Solanki was hardly overshadowed as he moved to a stylish half-century. The Royals batsmen gave the Sabres medium pacers no room for error as they added 127 for the second wicket before Solanki fell to a good diving catch by Burns at mid-on.

But any chink of light that Sabres thought they could see was eclipsed by Hick and Ben Smith, who eased to an attractive 64 not out, in an unbroken partnership of 139 runs that saw the Royals home.