Worcestershire in play-off

Ben Smith scored his first 40-over hundred in 13 years

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Worcestershire's NatWest Pro40 Division One survival will depend on a play-off against Glamorgan at Cardiff on Sunday following a dramatic 11-run loss against relegated Middlesex at Kidderminster.

The defeat means Graeme Hick's final appearance for the Royals has been delayed by a further 24 hours before he retires from county cricket at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old was only able to contribute 14 in an emotional appearance at Chester Road, where he began his career in England by performing for Kidderminster in the Birmingham League in 1984.

Ben Smith did his best to boost Worcestershire's fortunes in their unsuccessful bid to reach a testing target of 254 by cracking a splendid 107 - his first century in the competition for 13 years.

He smacked two sixes and nine fours off 95 balls before Worcestershire were finally dismissed for 242 in 39.4 overs after losing their last five wickets for just one run in seven balls.

Earlier, Ed Joyce had held centre stage for Middlesex, who made 253 for six after losing the toss.

He made 99 and began by putting on 107 in 17 overs with fellow opener Billy Godleman - the Crusaders' only three-figure stand for any wicket in the competition this season.

Godleman finally departed for a limited-overs best score of 48 when he was stumped by Steve Davies off spinner Gareth Batty.

Tyron Henderson fell victim to a catch just inside the deep midwicket boundary by Stephen Moore off Mitchell before teenage debutant Sam Robson became the 1,008th catch in all cricket for Hick.

Eoin Morgan was removed by Gareth Andrew before Joyce, backing up, was run-out in the same over by a smart pick up and throw by Vikram Solanki.

Steve Davies stumps Billy Godleman off Gareth Batty for his best limited-overs score of 48

It was just one run short of his fifth List A century with Worcestershire's final scalp being Dawid Malan, who was dismissed by a beautifully-judged low catch by Chris Whelan off Andrew.

There was no success, however, for Sri Lanka paceman Dilhara Fernando - who finished with figures of 7-0-43-0 on his debut for Worcestershire.

Last year's champions made an uncertain start to their run chase by losing Solanki cheaply before Davies and Moore began to steady the ship slightly by pushing their side past the 50 mark.

Davies, however, had an escape while on 14 when Joyce was unable to hold on to a sharp one-handed catch at first slip off Tim Murtagh, who quickly recovered to oust Moore.

Davies' luck ran out, however, when he was trapped lbw by Dirk Nannes to herald the arrival of Hick who received a standing ovation from the 2,000 crowd and a guard of honour by the Middlesex players as he made his way to the wicket.

He spent 42 minutes in the middle before hitting Malan to Morgan at short cover to spark off another rousing ovation as he made his way back to the pavilion.

Hick, who has piled up 22,059 runs in 651 one-day appearances, had put on 53 with Smith - who reached 75 before being dropped by Steven Finn during his prosperous partnership with Mitchell.

Mitchell was eventually stumped by Ben Scott off Murtagh after putting on 100 in 14 overs with Smith.

Battling Smith was run-out by an excellent piece of fielding by Henderson before Andrew, Batty and Whelan and AJ Harris followed in dramatic quickfire succession with Nannes taking 4-38 and Murtagh 3-51.