NEW Road spectators saw ton-up Graeme Hick at his best when he blasted Worcestershire to a seven-wicket win in their County Championship Division Two match against Middlesex.

The County skipper was in magnificent form plundering 115 not out to record the 109th first-class century of his career.

Following his hard-hitting exploits, he said: "After I'd been out there about ten or 15 minutes I felt things fell into place and I felt good for the rest of the innings."

For Hick it was his first ton at New Road since he completed a century of centuries in a memorable match against Sussex in May two years ago.

On Saturday, the Middlesex bowlers found him far too hot to handle as he smashed two huge sixes and 19 fours off 106 balls. His tremendous efforts enabled delighted Worcestershire to wrap the first win by any side in the Second Division.

It was achieved in the space of 79 dazzling minutes of Saturday and Hick said afterwards: "I thought we would be out there until just after lunch and that we would win the game with maybe five or six wickets down, so I'm delighted it went the way it did."

He added: "This time of the year there are one or two games that only reach the third day or early in the fourth. There's a lot of moisture around and we had a lot of late rain. I hoped it would have gone for four days for the spectators sake, but maybe there is a bit too much moisture around this time of year."

For Worcestershire, who picked up 15 points, it was comprehensive victory which helped make up for the disappointment of their opening Championship match against Glamorgan which ended in a rain-ravaged draw at New Road.

The County began on Saturday on 50-1 needing a further 111 to win. Hick resumed, on 25, with Elliott Wilson, who was a century-maker in Worcestershire's first innings.

They were unable to add to their overnight score, however, before Wilson, on 19, was caught at first slip by Justin Langer off paceman Richard Johnson,

It was soon clear, though, that Hick was in no mood for any mishaps and tore into the shell-shocked Middlesex attack alongside Vikram Solanki.

They put on 97 in 17 overs before Solanki offered a slip catch to Langer, this time off Angus Fraser.

David Leatherdale then briefly joined rampant Hick who wasted little time in hammering Worcestershire to an impressive win.

For Hick it was the ideal way to tune up for England's first Test against Zimbabwe which gets under way at Lord's on Thursday. "Having had a reasonable knock against Middlesex will obviously help. I just hope England can start the summer with a win."

Hick, meanwhile, was also full of praise for blossoming New Road opener Wilson, whose first innings 104 not out played a major part in the County being able to turn the tide in their favour.

He said: "I'm pleased for him. To start the season as early as this with a hundred gives him a lot of confidence. That will be good for us because hopefully he'll go on to better things."