Captain Ben Smith's rapid 91 was enough to gain Worcestershire an 18-run C&G Trophy win over Herefordshire at soggy New Road on Thursday.

Graeme Hick (41) and South African Andrew Hall (34) rescued the hosts from 8-2 and Smith pushed that to 279-8.

In reply, visiting opener Richard Hall was 54 not out with his side 146-4 after 29 overs when rain returned.

But the total was not enough to give Herefordshire an upset using the Duckworth/Lewis method.

The match was moved to the first-class county's HQ after a complete washout on Wednesday.

After losing the toss, Smith took just 88 balls about his innings, which included nine fours and two sixes.

He was finally lbw to former England bowler Martin McCague and West Indian Franklyn Rose also figured.

But medium-pacer Simon Roberts stood out with figures of 3-36.

Herefordshire: I Dawood (Wkt), R J Hall, C J Willetts, R D Hughes C W Boroughs (Capt), M J Rawnsley, N M Davies, M J McCague, F A Rose S A Roberts, M Horrocks.

Worcestershire: S D Peters, A J Hall, A J Bichel, G A Hick B F Smith (Capt), S C Moore, D A Leatherdale, S J Rhodes (Wkt) M S Mason, S A Khalid, M N Malik.