FRIENDS PROVIDENT TROPHY, GROUP A, New Road
Leicestershire 282 beat Worcestershire 264 by 18 runs(Leics 2pts, Worcs 0pts)

James Taylor's previous best one-day score was 48

James Taylor's first one-day century helped Leicestershire to an 18-run victory over Worcestershire in the Friends Provident Trophy at New Road.

Taylor faced 109 balls for his 101 and was ably supported by HD Ackerman (63) and Boeta Dippenaar (63 no) as Leics racked up 282-3 from their 50 overs.

Worcester looked well placed at 214-4 after half-centuries from Steve Davies, Stephen Moore and Ben Smith.

But they lost their last six wickets for 50 runs to be dismissed for 264.

After winning their opening three Group A fixtures, Worcestershire have now slipped to two successive defeats.

Leicestershire openers Ackerman and Matthew Boyce (32) shared 65 for the first wicket before Boyce was trapped lbw attempting to reverse sweep off-spinner Gareth Batty.

When Ackerman was caught by Vikram Solanki off Matt Mason, Taylor and Dippenaar shared 121 in 19 overs for the fourth wicket, with Taylor eventually being run out in the 49th over.

Worcestershire's reply started badly, as Solanki was trapped lbw by Alex Wyatt for just three, but Davies (62) and Moore (51) put on 72 for the second wicket.

When they were dismissed, Smith (54) assumed responsibility for the run chase, but when he was caught by Wyatt off the bowling of Wayne White, Worcester's hopes of victory departed with him.

Worcestershire captain Vikram Solanki told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I'm very disappointed as we pretty much had the game wrapped up as far as the chase was concerned.

"We made some poor mistakes that led to us losing the game.

"The two run-outs were obvious mistakes but we perhaps approached it in not exactly the manner we should have done towards the closing stages of our innings."

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