Cricket News

Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester after the game, the Worcestershire skipper, Vikram Solanki was delighted with the victory, as he felt that this had been a good response by the side to the disruptions brought on by the flooding at New Road:

"It's good to be playing; we're very grateful to everyone at Edgbaston for accommodating us - it's been difficult over the last couple of weeks or so.

"It's great to be playing and even better to have won in the way that we did."

Batting first, Sussex looked to be a very healthy position at 178-3, but Worcestershire's bowlers hit back to bowl out the Sharks for 200.

Kabir Ali, Ray Price and Gareth Batty each took three wickets, and Vikram Solanki was pleased by the way in which his all of his bowlers had stuck to their task

Graeme Hick: another half-century for the Royals

"I thought we started very well - the new ball bowlers did well and put together a good partnership.

"Then, when they got hold of the seamers, the spinners came on and did a job, and we fielded pretty well.

"There was a stage when it looked as though they were going to post a better total, but we bowled well at the death."

The Worcestershire skipper had particular praise for the efforts of Doug Bollinger; the Australian has not had the most successful of periods at New Road this summer, but Solanki told BBC Hereford and Worcester that he had been impressed by how the left-armer had risen to the challenge:

"It was evident from when we got here that, on that pitch, the seamers were going to find it tough work and they were going to be the people that batsmen were going to target.

"With that in mind, to bowl a lengthy first spell from one end was a great effort, and he stuck to the task well."

Graeme Hick and Ben Smith then put on a century stand that was to prove the backbone of the Worcestershire run chase; Hick made 57 and Smith an unbeaten 43 as the Royals got home with four overs to spare.

Vikram Solanki had earlier laid the foundations of the victory in making 55, as he and fellow opener Phil Jaques steadied any nerves with a half-century opening stand.

Having lost so much cricket due to the flooding problems at New Road, the last thing that Worcestershire needed was a three-day break before they were next into action, but as they reflected on the convincing win over the Sharks, this was precisely what they were facing.

"We seem to keep having a fairly stop-start season, but we've got a one-day game coming up and we can take a lot of confidence into that game from this performance.

"Then we've got another one-day game later in the week, so hopefully we can maintain our standards."

BBC Hereford and Worcester will carry full commentary on the day-night match at Chelmsford on 738 AM and online from around 4.35pm on Thursday 2 August.

Trevor Owens and Graham Hill will be the commentary team for this match, while there will also be full commentary from Trent Bridge on Sunday 5 August for the Pro40 game against Nottinghamshire Outlaws.