WORCESTERSHIRE'S cricket committee chairman Martin Horton today tipped England A star Vikram Solanki as a top quality batsman destined for Test recognition.

The County stroke-maker gave selectors another nudge yesterday when he scored an undefeated 52 off just 42 balls in England A's eight-wicket victory over South Island at Christchurch.

Horton now believes Solanki is emerging as a genuine Test prospect and would be one batsman England would call on if they suffered an injury blow on their current tour of South Africa.

He said: "If any injuries happened he'd be one of the first choices to take over there.

"He's been one of the two or three big successes on the A tour. He's done very well and he's got the ability. He's also a brilliant fielder.

"Vikram has more natural talent than almost any other batsman in England and he seems more consistent now."

Solanki, who with his County team-mate Graeme Hick has been selected for England's one-day squad to play South Africa and Zimbabwe this winter, was in impressive form when England A warmed up for Sunday's Test against their New Zealand counterparts with their initial first-class victory of the tour.

Set exactly 100 to win in a minimum of 38 overs, they achieved their target with 15 overs to spare and at the loss of just two wickets.

Solanki cracked two sixes and eight fours and with Michael Trescothick (30) put on fifty in just 31 minutes.

Openers Michael Gough and Ian Ward were the wickets to fall but that proved just a minor irritation in an emphatic performance by Mark Alleyne's team.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire's up-and-coming batsman Elliott Wilson is part of the British Universities side to tour South Africa.

It will be the first time a Universities side has gone abroad since 1991 when Mike Atherton took a team to Barbados.

Wilson and his team-mates will compete in the South Africa Universities tournament with the tour starting on Friday and finishing on December 14.