GRAEME Hick hit a supreme 120 as Worcestershire crushed totesport League Second Division leaders Middlesex by 83 runs to maintain their promotion hopes.

The former England man was in imperious form as he collect hit second hundred of the competition against the Crusaders and helped his side post 261 for seven at Lord's.

The Royals had started badly, slipping to 27 for three early on but David Leatherdale offered Hick valuable support in a record fourth-wicket stand for the County in limited-overs matches.

Leatherdale hit 63 in a partnership worth 160 runs in 27 overs before he offered a return catch to Paul Weekes but Hick continued to plunder the home attack.

He brought up his century from 100 balls with the 12th boundary of an innings which included one hit worth eight runs when he struck a Melvyn Betts no ball over the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Simon Cook was the only Middlesex bowler to impress, taking five for 34 -- which included the wicket of Hick -- and the new ball bowler now has 34 wickets in the league this season, surpassing the previous county record of 30 set by John Emburey in 1990.

In reply, the home side were soon in trouble, losing their first two wickets inside four overs.

Ben Scott and Owais Shah attempted to revive the innings with a partnership of 94 in 17 overs that was ended when Scott, having reached a career-best 42, was run out by Hick with a direct hit from cover.

Shah completed his half-century in 60 balls, hitting seven boundaries, but he fell to former Zimbabwe Test player Ray Price for 54 soon after.

That sparked a rapid collapse that saw four wickets fall for seven runs in 13 balls with Gareth Batty finishing with three for 41.

The only concern for the victors was an injury to Kabir Ali, who bowled just 11 deliveries before he was assisted off the field with a suspected small tear to a stomach muscle.