Taylor hundred sinks Worcestershire

HD Ackerman drives the ball through the covers during his elegant 63

James Taylor hit his maiden one-day century as Leicestershire beat Worcestershire by 18 runs in the Friends Provident Trophy match at New Road.

The 19-year-old, a former Worcestershire second XI player, scored 101 to secure a second win in five matches for the Foxes and dent the hosts’ hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

After winning their opening three Group A games, the Royals have now slipped to two successive defeats.

Needing 283 to win, they were dismissed for 264 in 48.2 overs despite battling half-centuries from Steven Davies, Ben Smith and Stephen Moore.

Leicestershire, batting first on a flat track after winning the toss, rarely looked in trouble as Taylor, backed up by half-centuries from HD Ackerman and Boeta Dippenaar, eased saw them to 282 for three.

They were given a sound footing by openers Ackerman and Matthew Boyce, who put on 65 in the first 14 overs.

Their partnership ended when Boyce attempted to reverse-sweep spinner Gareth Batty and was trapped leg before for 32.

Ackerman, a century-maker in his side’s seven-wicket win over Ireland at Grace Road last week, came perilously close to being run out on 43 before going on to make 63.

He cracked four fours before finally falling to a well taken catch at midwicket by Vikram Solanki off Matt Mason.

Leicestershire were boosted by a splendid century stand between Taylor and Dippenaar, who prospered after being reprieved by a diving Ian Fisher at mid-off when he had made 17.

Taylor was finally run out following a smart throw by Mason in the 49th over. He had put on 121 in 19 overs with Dippenaar, who was unbeaten on 63, which contained three sixes and one four.

Claude Henderson claimed three wickets as Leicestershire bowled Worcestershire out for 264 with 10 balls remaining

Shortly after reaching his half-century Dippenaar overcame another difficult chance to Fisher, this time at short fine-leg.

Despite losing Solanki cheaply, Worcestershire responded through Davies, who was in dominant form before departing to an excellent two-handed diving catch at midwicket by Carl Crowe off James Allenby.

The wicketkeeper-batsman hit one six and eight fours off and put on 77 in 12 overs with Moore, whose new partner Moeen Ali was run out by Taylor's direct hit from backward point after being sent back as he went in search of a single.

It was a damaging blow for the Royals, who then lost Moore in painful circumstances. He limped off after being struck while trying to pull a Wayne White delivery which trapped him lbw for 51, including one six and two fours.

Former Grace Road campaigner Smith, dropped by Harry Gurney off White on 10, put on 71 in 14 overs with Daryl Mitchell before the Foxes took full advantage of another run-out opportunity. Taylor was again instrumental in the dismissal of Mitchell for 30.

Batty was removed before Smith was eventually ousted for 54, which contained two fours and spanned 73 balls, to signal the beginning of the end of Worcestershire’s hopes.