LEFT-ARM seamer Alamgir Sheriyar pushed Worcestershire a step nearer the CGU National League Division One title with another impressive performance against his old club at Grace Road yesterday.

Set 198 to win, Leicestershire never got out of the blocks as Sheriyar and Phil Newport claimed two wickets each to send the home side slumping to 30-4 in the first 10 overs.

Although The Foxes fought back well, from that point on they were always behind the clock. In the end, Worcestershire won by 11 runs to close within two points of leaders Lancashire.

But the Royals have a game in hand and with only two defeats in the league this season -- the last of them away to Gloucester on May 31 -- must be favourites to take the title.

On a slow pitch of uneven bounce, it was hardly the most compelling or exciting of one-day contests with only Vikram Solanki managing a half-century in the match.

The highest partnership in the game was only a modest 59 in 14 overs as well. That was between Solanki and David Leatherdale for the Royals' fourth wicket after they had looked in some trouble at 56-4.

Phil Weston went in the third over, superbly caught at slip by Vince Wells off Mike Kasprowicz, and when Graeme Hick edged the same bowler to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon after reaching 18, the Foxes must have felt they were on course for their fourth win in a row.

But Solanki changed the pattern of the game with some lusty blows. After being dropped on 48 on the mid-wicket boundary, he reached 50 off 68 balls and had made 63 off 82 balls with seven fours when he was unluckily run out.

Stuart Lampitt straight drove Dominic Williamson and the bowler got a hand to the ball diverting it into the stumps with Solanki backing up and out of his ground.

By then, however, he had done enough to give the Royals the advantage, and while their score of 197-7 appeared modest, it was always going to be a challenging.

Sheriyar and Newport made it even tougher as they sent back Wells, Darren Stevens, Ben Smith and Chris Lewis in the opening 10 overs.

Aftab Habib, Nixon, Jon Dakin and Williamson fought back for the home side and when Williamson struck three successive fours off Gavin Haynes in the 40th over the door was ajar for the Foxes.

It was immediately slammed shut by Richard Illingworth with two tight overs and the home side finished on 186-9, Sheriyar claiming 3-34.