IN-FORM Alex Hepburn hit his first century of the season as Worcestershire seconds defeated the Zimbabwe Academy by 152 runs in a 50-over match at Barnt Green.

Hepburn followed up his 98 and 76 not out in the Championship win over Leicestershire by making 104 as the seconds totalled 305-9 after electing to bat.

Then paceman Dillon Pennington and spinner Ben Twohig picked up three wickets each as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 153 in 35 overs.

After the early loss of Josh Dell, Ollie Westbury (43) and Hepburn added 130 in 23 overs for the second wicket.

Hepburn and Jack Haynes put on 65 more before the former was dismissed after 13 fours in his 115-ball knock.

Haynes made an accomplished 61 from 54 deliveries with two sixes and six fours.

Skipper Twohig struck 36 from 22 balls with two sixes and four other boundaries.

Richard Ngarava returned 5-37 from nine overs.

Zimbabwe suffered an early blow when opener Aarsh Jha was struck on the toe by a delivery from Pat Brown and forced to retire.

The visitors reached 76-0 but Pennington picked up three quick wickets and Twohig collected three scalps in one over.

Pennington finished with 3-35 and Twohig 3-45 before Westbury wrapped up the innings with two wickets in his solitary over.

Worcestershire academy lost by five wickets to their Leicestershire counterparts in the Tri-Series 50-over contest at Royal Grammar School Worcester despite a half-century from Jujhar Johal.

The academy chose to bat after winning the toss and opener Johal hit 50 off 75 balls with five fours before he was run out.

He shared in an opening stand of 49 with Pete Clark and added 48 more for the third wicket with Xavier Clarke (34).

After Johal was third out with the total on 103 in the 24th over Edd Bragg and Matt Davies added 41 for the sixth wicket.

But the last five wickets went for 37 runs as the County were dismissed for 190 in 49.5 overs.

Leicestershire lost two early wickets and fell to 63-3 but the decisive stand came from Ash Trusz (77) and Ben Mike (69 not out) who added 100 in just 18 overs.

Clark (2-36 in 9.1 overs) enjoyed late successes with the ball but the visitors reached their target with 8.5 overs to spare.