Worcestershire Seconds suffered an eight wicket defeat at the hands of their Leicestershire counterparts in a Second Eleven Trophy clash at Grace Road today.
Worcestershire were bowled out for 122 in 38.1 overs after electing to bat despite a half century opening stand between Matt Pardoe and Joe Clarke.
The home side lost two early wickets but reached their target with 21.4 overs to spare.
There was a minute's silence before the game for Worcestershire Academy coach Damian D'Oliveira who died in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Pardoe and Engand Under-19 wicket-keeper Clarke made a positive start with 50 runs coming off the first 10 overs.
But spinner James Sykes broke the partnership in the 12th over by trapping Clarke lbw for 19 and five balls later Pardoe (20) fell to Shiv Thakor.
Sykes returned the impressive figures of 4-16 in his 10 overs and Thakor 3-9 in four overs after taking two wickets in two balls right at the end of his spell.
Skipper Gareth Andrew (13) and George Rhodes (19) were the other players to reach double figures.
Worcestershire were asked to bowl 13 overs before lunch and needed early wickets and Graeme Whiles and Graeme Cessford both struck in their first over to reduce Leicestershire to 5-2.
Michael Thornely and Thakor saw Leicestershire through to the interval at 52-2 and, despite Andrew ringing the changes and Shaaiq Choudhry bowling an economical spell, they continued through to the modest target without being parted.
Thornely remained unbeaten on 59 from 76 balls with five fours and Thakor 52 from 84 deliveries with five boundaries in a stand worth 118 in 27 overs.
Worcestershire: Pardoe c and b Thakor 20, Clarke lbw Sykes 19, Choudhry c Thornely b Thakor 4, Andrew b Sayer 13, MacVicar c Hill b Thakor 0, Hepburn c and b Sayer 8, Rhodes lbw Sykes 18, Twohig lbw Sykes 9, Cessford c Johnson b Akram 7, Lester b Sykes 0, Whiles not out 6, Extras 18, Total 122 all out in 38.1 overs.
Bowling: Akram 1-20, Sykes 4-16, Thakor 3-9, Sayer 2-24.
FOW: 53, 53, 67, 67, 70, 88, 106, 109, 109, 122.
Leicestershire: Robson b Whiles 0, Thornely not out 59, O'Brien c Clarke b Cessford 5, Thakor not out 52. Extras 7. Total 123-2 in 28.2 overs.
Bowling: Whiles 4-0-19-1, Cessford 4-1-16-1, Lester 3-1-8-0, Choudhry 8-0-32-0, Rhodes 6-1-28-0, Twohig 2-0-10-0, MacVicar 1.2-0-8-0.
FOW: 0, 5.
*The two counties will meet again tomorrow (Wednesday) at the start of a three-day Second Eleven Championship match at Lutterworth.
