Australians complete comprehensive win in tour opener

Australia chalked up an emphatic first win in the Vodafone Challenge series by overpowering Worcestershire on the final day at New Road.

The tourists added 124 in 90 minutes before declaring at 360-8 and then dismissed the county for 188 to romp home by 360 runs with more than ten overs to spare.

Damien Fleming instigated Worcestershire's struggle with two wickets in successive overs on either side of lunch. Anurag Singh edged to second slip and Graeme Hick's unhappy match closed with a first-ball nick to first slip.

Philip Weston pulled successive fours off Nathan Bracken before he was lbw to the left-arm paceman for 22 and Glenn McGrath landed the decisive blows on his team-mates from last year when he was Worcestershire's overseas player.

The Aussies' No 1 fast bowler accounted for Vikram Solanki and Kadeer Ali in his afternoon spell and came back after tea to post a final return of four for 31 in 12.3 overs.

McGrath trapped Kabir Ali lbw for 39 after the young all-rounder had hit eight fours in the one notable stand of 66 in 20 overs with top scorer David Leatherdale.

Matt Rawnsley went in McGrath's next over and Leatherdale was ninth out for 72, a quality innings of 11 fours ended by a yorker from Bracken after the Yorkshireman had faced 113 balls.

The Australians' morning workout with the bat included a rousing 41 from 23 balls by Shane Warne, who then held two slip catches and took the wicket of Jamie Pipe, but the man of the match award went to Damien Martyn for his 108 on the first day.