WORCESTERSHIRE soon lost Anurag Singh and Graeme Hick after winning the toss and deciding to bat first in there Benson and Hedges Cup clash against Northamptonshire at Kidderminster today.

Both fell victim to lively paceman Darren Cousins.

Paul Pollard and Singh had launched the innings in bright sunshine against Cousins and John Blain.

Cousins began with a maiden to Pollard from the railway end while Blain conceded boundaries to both batsmen in his opening over.

The first was a well struck drive through the covers to Pollard before Singh edged the ball past the slips to the ropes.

The County then moved into double figures in the third over but soon lost Singh when he played no shot to Cousins and was cleaned bowled for six.

The former Warwickshire batsman, making his Benson debut for Worcestershire was replaced by skipper Hick who was soon of the mark.

Pollard survived a loud lbw appeal against Cousins while on 15, but quickly settled down with an extra-cover drive to the boundary off Blain.

Cousin,s however, struck a major blow when he trapped Hick leg-before with a delivery that kept low for nine.

Pollard was then joined by Vikram Solanki and when Worcestershire had reached 42-2 after 11 overs, Northants made their first bowling change, Kevin Innes taking over from Blain whose five overs at cost 33 runs.

The County were unchanged from the side which opened their Norwich Union League Division Two campaign with a five-wicket win over Sussex at Chester Road yesterday.

Worcs: P.R. Pollard, A. Singh, G.A. Hick, V. Solanki, D.A. Leatherdale, W.P.C. Weston, S.J. Rhodes, A.J. Bichel, S.R. Lampitt, M.J. Rawnsley, A. Sheriyar.

Northants: M.E. Hussey, M.D. Loye, J.W. Cook, R.J. Warren, A.L. Penberthy, G.P. Swann, D. Ripley, K.J. Innes, J.F. Brown, J.A.R. Blain, D.M. Cousins,

Umpires: T. Clarkson, J.H. Evans.