WORCESTER (Worcestershire won toss): Worcestershire Royals (2pts) beat Derbyshire Phantoms by 76 runs
AN OUTSTANDING fielding performance by Worcestershire ensured that Derbyshire’s depleted side, which included a 16-year-old debutant, were never going to get close to a target of 224. The Royals are level with Gloucestershire at the top of the second division and although Surrey, in third place, have a game in hand, the Brown Caps must still visit New Road.
Derbyshire’s hopes of a successful pursuit depended largely on their two most experienced players, Steve Stubbings and Travis Birt. If Steven Davies, diving to his left, did well to hold on to an edge from the former, Zaheer Khan clung on to a brute of a catch to account for the Tasmanian. Running back from mid-wicket, he had to judge a swirling steepler to perfection, taking it over his shoulder.
Daniel Redfern, a diminutive 16-year-old from Staffordshire, was sent in at No 3 to give him a proper opportunity. He did not find batting easy before he was brilliantly run out by Lou Vincent when the New Zealander dived full length at backward point to make a stop and then, still on his knees, threw down the stumps. Later, Vincent took another excellent catch at extra cover to dismiss Greg Smith.
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Worcestershire got off to a flier thanks to Vikram Solanki’s buccaneering 49 off 36 balls. Stephen Moore held the innings together with a 70-ball fifty before Graham Wagg ran him out with a fast pick-up and direct hit from 50 yards. Davies reached a maiden one-day fifty from 68 balls and Roger Sillence crashed 22 off 14.