WORCESTERSHIRE Over 60s made a losing start to their Spitfire County Championship southern group campaign with a seven-wicket defeat to Sussex at Ombersley.

Home captain Colin Groves won the toss and chose to bat first on a dry pitch in bright but cold conditions.

Keith Middleton and John Swift started a little hesitantly, especially Swift who was bowled by Sussex opener Richard Maharaj in the sixth over without scoring.

Trevor Knowles joined Middleton and together they moved the score to 45 by the 14th over when Knowles was caught off Maharaj for nine.

Chris Taylor came to the wicket, scoring freely, but in the 24th over lost his partner Middleton for 38, stumped by Robbie Barker.

Derek Ebbage joined Taylor, but the latter was out lbw for 36 off the bowling of Andy Shanks and was followed next over by Ebbage, who was lbw to Andrew Barnes.

The score was now 102-5 but Dick Brown and Groves added a steady 40 before Brown was stumped off Neil Chitty’s bowling for 25.

Two quick wickets followed as the batsmen tried for rapid runs, but the total only crept to an inadequate 154-8, with Groves unbeaten on 24.

The home attack gave Worcestershire some cause for hope as Cliff Rawlings trapped Peter Gray lbw and Knowles dismissed Bob Phillips in a similar manner as the score stumbled to 37-2 in the 13th over.

However, opener Andy Meads (49) and Sussex captain Barnes began to pile on the runs.

A direct hit from Rawlings ran out Meads, but this was the only success as Barnes (77no) and Barry Peay saw Sussex to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the 37th over.

Sussex picked up 22 points for their efforts, while Worcestershire claimed just three.