WORCESTERSHIRE Royals’ miserable form in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition continued following a 86-run defeat to Kent Spitfires at New Road.

The visitors were the only team the County had beaten in this year’s tournament, but a poor performance in the field by the Royals saw the Spitfires avenge that loss with ease.

Group ‘A’ cellar-dwellers Royals were always behind in the game and they continue to struggle in the 40-over format, slumping to their sixth defeat in eight matches.

The New Road crowd are becoming increasingly frustrated by some of the Royals displays in the CB40 and it is going to take a fair amount of encouragement from director of cricket Steve Rhodes, captain Daryl Mitchell and other senior figures in the dressing room to keep spirits up.

Days like yesterday are becoming too regular in this competition, but the danger for Rhodes is that the performances in the 40-over tournament are starting to spill over into the County’s LV= Championship Division One displays.

The target was always to try and stay in the top-flight of the four-day game, but confidence must be affected following the Royals exit from the Friends Life t20 and now struggling in the CB40.

It was not a great day for the Royals in the field. Not only was the bowling disappointing, the fielding left a lot to be desired.

Although Jack Shantry finished with 3-47, he only bowled five overs, and he will know that his display will have to improve following several mis-fields.

But it was not just the left-arm seamer who was culpable for Worcestershire as Kent posted a score of 291-7.

Captain Martin van Jaarsveld batted with ease for his 124 before pulling Shantry to Moeen Ali, who ran around from long-on to take a superb catch.

Saeed Ajmal, who took his only five-wicket haul for Worcestershire at New Road in LV= County Championship last week, was the pick of the County attack with 3-42 from his eight overs, while skipper Daryl Mitchell, who opened the bowling, claimed 1-44 from his seven.

Having to chase down 292 in 40 overs was always going to be a tough ask and even when Moeen raced to a 31-ball 50, it seemed he was always likely to hit one big shot too many.

That’s what happened in the 11th over as he attempted to smash Simon Cook out the ground only for Adam Riley to run around from long-off to claim the catch.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, despite some good showings with the bat from 17-year-old Aneesh Kapil (26) and Gareth Andrew (33), Kent wrapped up the inevitable victory in the 35th over.