8:29pm Sunday 29th August 2010
By Michael Reeves
WORCESTERSHIRE Royals will look to make it three Clydesdale Bank 40 Group ‘A’ wins in a row when they host Somerset tomorrow (1.45pm).
The County edged to a five-wicket success over the Unicorns in a rain-reduced match at New Road yesterday.
Having claimed their first win of the tournament over Glamorgan Dragons the previous weekend, the Royals were keen to to secure their second against the side made up of former professionals.
Jack Shantry got Worcestershire off to the perfect start as they seeked revenge after the three-wicket defeat handed out to them last month at Kidderminster.
The left-arm seamer removed Jackson Thompson with the second ball of the match as he chipped to James Cameron.
Chris Russell, on his competitive County debut, claimed his first wicket when Chris Murtagh edged him to first slip Vikram Solanki, who held on at the second attempt, to leave the visitors on 20-2 in the sixth over.
Josh Knappett batted with great composure against his former team-mates and looked set to hit his maiden one-day century.
However, the ex-Worcestershire gloveman, playing in his first competitive match at New Road, pulled Gareth Andrew on to his stumps nine short of his hundred.
Andrew and Shantry both claimed three wickets apiece on a slow wicket as the Unicorns were restricted to 181-9 in a rain-reduced 37 overs.
Moeen Ali, who struck 121 against Glamorgan, looked determined to carry on from where he left off. Opening again, the 23-year-old was quickly into his stride with two fours off the first over.
However, despite looking at relative ease, Moeen fell in the seventh over as he drove Neil Saker to Murtagh at mid-off for a 26-ball 40.
Solanki went for 39 after a rare rush of blood to the head saw him pull Neil Hancock to Thompson at deep mid-on.
Daryl Mitchell and James Cameron looked to be taking their time until the captain edged Jonathan Miles behind to Knappett for 23.
Cameron and Shaaiq Choudhry then secured victory with 12 balls left.
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