Jacques Banton hit a half century for Worcestershire Academy who went down by seven wickets to Ireland Under-19s in the first of two 50 over matches at Dumbleton CC.
Banton top-scored with 52 off 54 balls with six fours as the Academy were bowled out for 169 in 41 overs.
He put on 52 for the ninth wicket with Rohan Hesketh (19 not out) after the Academy had been 111-8 at one stage.
But Ireland raced to victory in just 23.2 overs although Riecko Parker-Cole did pick up two wickets.
The two sides will meet again tomorrow at the same venue in another 50 over encounter.
Worcestershire openers Dan Holland (12) and Ben Lees (27) put on 51 for the first wicket after their side had opted to bat with the aid of two lots of four wides.
But Holland and then Rehaan Edavaleth (17) were both run out and the wickets started to fall at regular intervals before the Banton-Hesketh partnership.
Ireland openers O. Metcalfe (26) and M. Poskett (50) put on 63 before Parker-Cole made two breakthroughs in the space of four runs.
Seb Smith collected a third scalp of the innings with the total on 109 before W. Smale (34) and N. Rock (42) added an unbroken 61.
Parker-Cole finished with 2-26 and Smith 1-29.
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The Academy side for tomorrow’s fixture with Ireland Under-19s is:
Hinkley
Walker
Cullen
Edavaleth
Holland
Miszkowski
Evitts
H. Marshall
Parker-Cole
Tomson
Dickenson
G. Marshall
