C&G Trophy holders Yorkshire will begin their defence of the trophy against Cambridgeshire next summer.

But a far sterner test awaits in the following round with the prospect of a trip to New Road to face Worcestershire.

Yorkshire lifted the trophy after a six-wicket win over Somerset at Lord's last month.

But Worcestershire proved themselves to be a highly effective one-day unit during the summer.

They reached the B&H Cup semi-finals, the last eight of the C&G Trophy and took second place behind Glamorgan in Norwich Union League Division One.

Fourteen counties will face minor opposition in the third round, but Middlesex must travel to face Northamptonshire, and Hampshire will play host to Sussex at the Rose Bowl, with the winners to face each other.

Third round draw (7 May 2003):

1 Bedfordshire v Warwickshire
2 Durham CB v Glamorgan
3 Buckinghamshire v Gloucestershire
4 Cambridgeshire v Yorkshire
5 Essex CB v Essex
6 Kent CB v Derbyshire
7 Worcestershire CB v Worcestershire
8 Berkshire v Durham
9 Lincolnshire v Nottinghamshire
10 Cornwall v Kent
11 Staffordshire v Surrey
12 Scotland v Somerset
13 Devon v Lancashire
14 Northumberland v Leicestershire
15 Northamptonshire v Middlesex
16 Hampshire v Sussex

Fourth round draw (28 May 2003):

Winners match 15 v Winners match 16
Winners match 14 v Winners match 9
Winners match 8 v Winners match 13
Winners match 11 v Winners match 12
Winners match 10 v Winners match 3
Winners match 7 v Winners match 4
Winners match 1 v Winners match 5
Winners match 2 v Winners match 6