WORCESTERSHIRE finished the Yorkshire Bank 40 programme with a crushing seven-wicket defeat by Sussex.

Luke Wright and Matt Machan sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket win with 11.3 overs to spare at New Road.

Worcestershire’s total of 243 for six proved to be well short of a testing target as Sussex’s second-wicket pair ripped the bowling to shreds, putting on 184 in 19 overs before falling in the space of eight balls from Moeen Ali.

Wright plundered two sixes and 14 fours when he was caught at long on after making 112 from 69 balls and Machan was bowled for 79 after hitting 12 fours and a six from 57 deliveries.

Wright came into the match on the back of scoring 143 not out from 68 balls for England Lions against Bangladesh A last week and continued in that vein after being dropped at mid-off when he was still in single figures.

With Ed Joyce bowled by Jack Shantry in the third over, Machan was given an early opportunity to showcase his range of shots.

The young left-hander did not disappoint, needing four balls fewer than Wright to reach 50.

However from that point it was showtime for the senior partner as he completed a second 50 in only 28 balls.

Earlier, Moeen continued his rich run of form for Worcestershire but only as far as adding 51 to his three centuries spread between two competitions last week.

Sussex’s bowlers quickly came under fire as the England Lions left-hander drove Andrew Miller to long on for six and picked off seven more boundaries in completing his half-century from only 37 balls.

It was the power of his driving that brought about his downfall when he chanced a single off Will Beer.

The ball reached mid-off so quickly that Chris Liddle had time to run him out with a direct hit at the bowler’s end.

With Moeen gone, Sussex were able to claw back the scoring rate as the spinners, Beer and Chris Nash, took one wicket each in getting through 16 overs together for 81 runs.

Thilan Samaraweera managed to hit only seven fours, although he did maintain a run-a-ball tempo in an unbeaten 72.

Ross Whiteley drove Beer for a straight six as he contributed 34 before he was yorked by Liddle.