Wicketkeeper James Pipe claimed a competition record eight catches as Worcestershire stormed into the fourth round of the C & G Trophy.

Worcester hammered poor Hertfordshire at Balls Park, Hertford by 267 runs -- a record winning margin in English 50-over cricket.

Although the Worcester innings of 336-8 owed most to a superb 155 from Graeme Hick, the star was 23-year-old Pipe, playing only because of a calf injury to regular 'keeper Steve Rhodes.

Hick was judged man of the match by adjudicator Fred Titmus, his fifth in this competition, but Pipe claimed the first five Hertfordshire batsmen, then the last three too, to eclipse the previous best of seven catches, claimed by England captain Alec Stewart against Glamorgan seven years ago.

Pipe saved the best until last, his record-breaking eighth catch, to snaffle Scott Ruskin off Stuart Lampitt and finish the match off, being a blinding full-length diving effort.

Earlier, the star of the show was Hick, who hit 18 fours and five sixes in a 113-ball effort that sent the poor Herts bowlers to all parts of the ground, sharing a second-wicket stand of 188 with Anurag Singh (79).

In reply, home skipper Martin James opened Pipe's account in Bichel's first over, Alamgir Sheriyar claimed Stephen Lowe in the next, then came the real carnage in the fifth over.

Bichel had both Lowe's younger brother and Mark Everett caught behind in successive balls, then had an almighty appeal for lbw turned down on the hat-trick ball against Matt Smith.

There was no comeback from 11-4 as the match finished at 4.30pm, Hertfordshire all out for 69.