Dragons face stern challenge after leaders reach 202

On a seamer-friendly surface at New Road, Worcestershire Royals must fancy their chances of extending their lead in Division One of the Norwich Union League after posting 202 in their 45 overs against Glamorgan Dragons.

After recent rain had given the ground staff scant time to prepare the wicket, Steve James was happy to send the Royals in on winning the toss. Although ten runs came off Andrew Davies in the first over, pickings were never easy on a track that offered constant encouragement to the Dragons' pace attack.

Vikram Solanki, after two attractive boundaries, was caught in the gully cutting at Davies, and Graeme Hick also took a brace of fours before he was taken at first slip driving at Owen Parkin. Mark Wallace then held a skier from Stephen Peters, attempting an horrible paddle to leg.

That heralded the best partnership of the innings, between the Norwich Union's batting star of the season so far, Ben Smith, and Shane Lee, playing his first match since arriving from Australia to replace Andy Bichel as the Royals' overseas player. Lee (41 off 50 balls) was particularly severe on Robert Croft, the Dragons' most expensive bowler.

It ended when Smith was yorked by Davies for 25 to start a flurry of wickets. Lee was lbw walking across a straight ball from Dale, who took his third wicket when Rhodes failed to clear short fine leg. Batty did well to touch a ball that seamed and bounced, and Mike Powell brilliantly caught Leatherdale at mid-wicket, two-handed diving to his left.

At 155 for seven the Dragons were hardly fired up, but Kabir Ali managed 17, including six as Croft toppled into an advertising hoarding while holding a brilliant catch at long-off. Ali was run out, slow to answer a call for a second from Stuart Lampitt, who also made a handy contribution as the Royals eventually squeezed past 200.