Pro40 Hampshire vs Worcestershire

Hawks Lose To The Royals

Worcestershire emerged as serious Pro40 title contenders as they beat Hampshire at New Road by seven wickets with 10 and a half overs to spare.

Surrey-bound Steven Davies led the way with a second successive one-day century, surviving two 'lives' to make a round 100 from just 65 balls. Skipper Vikram Solanki was still there at the end on 82 out of 222-3.

Earlier, Worcestershire's other outgoing man Gareth Batty took 2-33 as Hampshire were limited to 220-6. Batty also took a key boundary a catch to remove Michael Lumb in Jack Shantry's opening spell.

And, having recovered from an expensive first over, he pegged back Hampshire, putting in a typical mid-innings containing spell with his changes of pace and flight.

When Worcestershire batted, Hampshire's attack, already under strength because of injuries, fell apart without Dominic Cork.

The former England all-rounder was unable to bowl after needing stitches to repair the damage inflicted when he was hit on the nose by the only ball he faced from Gareth Andrew at the end of the Hampshire innings.

Davies, who hit an unbeaten 106 in Saturday's victory against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, was admittedly put down early on by keeper Nic Pothas, then again by Imran Tahir at mid-on the ball before he was finally out.

But, in this form, the England Twenty20 keeper hitting 16 fours in his 173-run stand with Solanki (152 of which came off the first 15 overs), it is hard to imagine who could have bowled to him.

Victory takes 2007 winners Worcestershire into second place in Division One, just a point behind holders Sussex.

More intriguingly, the two counties are still to meet in what could be a title decider on the final Sunday of the season at New Road on 27 September.

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