GRAEME Hick admitted to being delighted by his return to high scoring form after burying Durham under an avalanche of runs.

His record-busting New Road triple century has set Worcestershire up for an emphatic Frizzell County Championship Division Two victory.

The rampant County run-machine plundered a tremendous 315 not out as his side soared to 643-7 declared in reply to injury-hit Durham's dismal 120.

When the shell-shocked visitors resumed their second innings today they were a massive 473 behind on 50-0. They soon lost their first wicket when Kabir Ali had Jon Lewis caught for 22 with the score on 57.

Hard-hitting Hick's score was the highest by a Worcestershire player at New Road, beating 311 not out by New Zealander Glenn Turner against Warwickshire in 1982.

After his memorable innings, which contained two sixes and 49 fours off 386 balls, the County skipper said: "I'm delighted. I needed it for myself and to get a big score here at New Road for the people of Worcester.

"They have supported me through the years and through the noughts and the hundreds. It's pleasing to do it just for them.

"I knew obviously Glenn had got 311 so when I was getting close to that I thought it would be nice to get past that and do it here at New Road.

"I enjoyed it and we are in a good position. I've been batting well the last couple of weeks. I've felt my form has really come back.

"I've been feeling good in the nets but you have got to take that out in the middle and in the last couple of weeks I've done that.

"I did feel good when I walked out to the crease on Wednesday and I was looking forward to batting."

Hick, who began the day on 119 not out, went on to register the highest individual first-class score by any batsman in the country so far this season.

His only other two scores above the 300 mark are the 405 not out against Somerset at Taunton in 1988 and an unbeaten 303 off the Hampshire attack at Southampton in 1997.

Hick's chanceless effort, combined with half-centuries from Anurag Singh (88 with seven fours off 148 balls), Ben Smith (83 with 13 fours off 160) and Andy Bichel (78 not out off 55 balls, including three sixes and nine fours).

This enabled Worcestershire to declare within striking distance of their highest ever score -- 670-7 declared against Somerset at New Road in 1995.