Worcestershire remain in top flight

Worcestershire held on to their NatWest Pro40 Division One status after trouncing Glamorgan by 103 runs in the play-off at the SWALEC Stadium.

Despite being restricted to 186 for six in their 40 overs – with half centuries for Vikram Solanki and Moeen Ali - after winning the toss on a slow, turning wicket, Worcestershire’s seamers demolished the home side’s top order.

Within eight balls Glamorgan were reeling at two for three, which became 48 for six in the 15th over. They were bowled out for just 83 in 23.5 overs – their lowest score against Worcestershire in one-day cricket.

Dilhara Fernando began the damage in the first over when he had Robert Croft caught at first slip by Ben Smith from the fifth ball and after two consecutive wides the Sri Lanka seamer bowled David Harrison, who had been sent in as a pinch-hitter.

In the next over Andrew Harris removed David Hemp – the third Glamorgan man to record a duck – as he edged to Smith at first slip.

Gareth Batty claimed a career-best 4-14 as Glamorgan capitulated

The situation did not get any better for Glamorgan as they were further reduced to 17 for four in the sixth over when Tom Maynard, who had dispatched Fernando for two boundaries, had his leg-stump removed by Harris.

And that became 35 for five and then 48 for six as Smith pulled off a sharp one-handed catch at midwicket to dismiss Michael Powell off Harris and in Gareth Batty’s first over Dalrymple was caught off the glove at leg-slip by Stephen Moore.

Batty went on to record career best one-day figures of 4-14.

Earlier in the day, after David Harrison had gone for 14 runs in his first over, Worcestershire found it a struggle to score consistently and they were not helped that Jason Gillespie recorded an opening spell of 6-2-14-2 to put them on the back foot.

The Australia seamer accounted for Steve Davies who was caught at short cover by Maynard and Moore being the victim of a catch at midwicket.

But though Solanki struggled to score consistently he ensured he did not give his wicket away in nearly two hours at the crease.

He lost Smith, who was caught by Powell, diving forward at mid-off off Dean Cosker, but found a more willing partner in Ali.

The fourth wicket pair added 45 in nine overs before Solanki, who went to his 50 from 85 balls, lost patience and was caught at midwicket after sweeping off-spinner Croft.

Ali also went to 50 from 50 balls including one six, a drive over long-on off Jamie Dalrymple, and a four.

Just as Ali looked like getting Worcestershire up towards the 200 mark he was bowled by Alex Wharf, who also broke through Daryl Mitchell’s defences two overs from the end of the innings.