Royals make light of Bears challenge

Worcestershire Royals have regained their lead at the top of the first division of the Norwich Union League with a thumping win over local rivals Warwickshire Bears.

A stand of 183 for the first wicket between Vikram Solanki (91) and Anurag Singh (75*) was the key as the visitors made light of a target of 216, to clinch victory by eight wickets with five overs remaining

Solanki was fantastic, hitting first Carter (whose first four over spell cost 29) and then Mo Sheikh (three overs for 24) out of the attack as the hosts, skippered by Dougie Brown in place of the dropped Michael Powell, wilted under the assault.

Delicate late cut was followed by flowing drive and powerful pull as Solanki produced the form that attracted the notice of the England selectors, while Singh proved his worth on a return trip to the club that used him so sparingly.

Earlier a one-day career best of 84 by Mark Wagh had led Warwickshire Bears to a challenging score of 216-8.

The Bears started cautiously in a key game for both sides. Knight and Wagh were happy to play percentage cricket for the opening overs, secure in the knowledge that winning the toss was worth about another 30 runs in a floodlit encounter, played in front of a good-sized crowd.

Knight tried to push on, hitting 14 off one Sheriyar over, including his trademark straight drive following a skip down the wicket. He helped add 62 for the first wicket before slashing flat-footedly at Lampitt only to see the ball lodge in between Rhodes' legs.

Ostler fell to a similar faint edge, leaving Ian Bell to show his class in outscoring Wagh in a 50-run partnership before pushing Lampitt to a diving Solanki at point. Troughton fell to a fine stumping off a leg-stump wide as Royals checked the attempted acceleration, and ensured that there was to be no late surge in the hosts scoring rate. A final total of 216 was probably about par.

Ironically, Warwickshire were hindered by the absence of lights in the later stages of their innings, with Wagh and Neil Smith falling to straight ones from Leatherdale (to leave him with 4-37) in increasing gloom, while the lights remained down.

In the other Division One match at Taunton, a second century in two days by Kevin Pietersen led Nottinghamshire Outlaws closer to safety and, consequently, increased the likelihood of relegation for Somerset Sabres. Pietersen scored 147 in the Outlaws' total of 296 for seven and was well-suppoted in a stand of 158 for the fifth wicket with Bilal Shafayat, who contributed a stylish 66.

The Sabres had lost half their wickets with only 80 on the board when Keith Parsons (73) and Matthew Wood (61) made a fight of it. They could not threaten the visitors' total, however, and Nottinghamshire Outlaws won by 59 runs.