Hertfordshire caught out by Pipe and Hick

Young wicket keeper Jamie Pipe claimed a competition record eight catches as Worcestershire stormed into the fourth round of the C & G Trophy.

Worcester hammered poor Hertfordshire at Balls Park by 267-runs - a record winning margin in English 50-over cricket.

And, although the Worcester innings of 336 for eight owed most to a fabulous 155 from Graeme Hick, the star of the show was 23-year-old Pipe, playing only because of a calf injury to regular keeper Steve Rhodes.

Hick was judged man of the match by adjudicator Fred Titmus, his fifth in this competition, but it was a day Pipe won't forget after claiming the first five Hertfordshire batsmen, then the last three too, to eclipse the previous best of seven catches, claimed by England captain Alec Stewart against Glamorgan seven years ago.

Pipe saved the best until last too, his record-breaking eight catch, to snaffle Scott Ruskin off Stuart Lampitt and finish the match off, being a blinding full-length diving effort.

Earlier, the star of the show had been Hick, the former England batsman hitting 18 fours and five sixes in a swashbuckling 113-ball effort that sent the poor Herts bowlers to all parts of their picturesque ground.

But, without star man David Ward, Herts had no hope of getting anywhere near it.

Home skipper Martin James opened Pipe's account in Bichel's first over, Alamgir Sheriyar claimed Stephen Lowe in the next, then came the real carnage in the fifth over.

Bichel had both Lowe's younger brother and Mark Everett caught behind in successive balls, then had an almighty appeal for lbw turned down on the hat-trick ball against Matt Smith. And there was no comeback from 11 for four.

On a glorious summer's afternoon, the home side's main quest was to at least ensure they passed the previous lowest score in the competition (Ireland's 39 against Sussex 14 years ago) before the end came at half-past-four.