WORCESTERSHIRE revved up for tomorrow's big Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final against Gloucestershire by launching their Norwich Union League Division One campaign with a crushing 127-run win over Somerset Sabres at New Road yesterday.

Skipper Graeme Hick's Royals were in a non-nonsense mood as they cut the Sabres down to size with a deadly pace bowling display by young Kabir Ali, who registered limited-over best figures of 4-15.

Somerset, facing a testing victory target of 255, were ripped out for 127 in 32.4 overs.

Their only two notable batting performances came from Keith Parsons with a battling 37 and some late lusty blows from Matt Bulbeck (21).

Parsons finally fell to an excellent one handed catch at mid-wicket by Ben Smith off spinner Matthew Rawnsley after he had cracked five fours off 60 balls.

Earlier Smith had been one of Worcestershire's batting heroes after they had won the toss and recovered well to make 254-7 after losing Vikram Solanki off the first ball.

Watched by a crowd of 2,433, the County's other main run-scoring contributors were Anurag Singh, Steve Rhodes and David Leather-dale.

Hick again failed to get into full flow, making 18 in a second wicket stand worth 70 in 15 overs with Singh.

Confident Singh, making his first limited-over appearance of the season, went on to make a fine 65 which contained ten fours off 70 balls.

A further 64 in 11 overs were added by Leatherdale and Smith before paceman Simon Francis checked the County's progress by picking up two wickets in one over.

Firstly, he bowled Leather-dale for 39 and then had Gareth Batty snapped up behind by Malvern-born Rob Turner for two.

Worcestershire, however, rapidly regained their composure in their first match in the top flight since last season's promotion with a 78-run partnership in 12 overs between Smith and Rhodes.

Both fell in the last over off successive deliveries from Francis who finished with one-day best figures of 4-60.

Smith scored 66, his highest limited-over score so far for the County, after hitting four fours off 81 balls.

Rhodes clubbed one six and three fours off 34 deliveries.