WORCESTERSHIRE hit back well after an early shock in their Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round tie against Hertfordshire at Hertford today.

Off only the fifth ball of the match, Phil Weston was caught by Stephen Lowe off the bowling of Paul O'Reilly for just two, with the total on only three.

But skipper Graeme Hick and Anurag Singh wasted no time in repairing the damage, and they hit out well to hoist the total up to 117-1 after only 14 overs.

Singh reached his half-century in only 45 balls, hitting 11 fours in an unbeaten 53, while Hick reached 45 off only 38 balls with a six and six fours.

Opening bowler Ruskin came in for the harshest treatment, going for 46 runs in three overs.

Nick Boulton came into the Worcestershire side after Vikram Solanki was ruled out by a groin injury suffered in Sunday's Norwich Union League defeat against Glamorgan.

Hertfordshire: M.H. James, D. Lowe, S. Lowe, S. Cordingly, M. Everett, M. Smith, S. White, B. Frasier, L. Cooper, S. Ruskin, P. O'Reilly.

Worcestershire: W.P.C. Weston, A. Singh, G.A. Hick, D.A. Leatherdale, N.R. Boulton, A.J. Bichel, D.J. Pipe, S.R. Lampitt, Kabir Ali, C.G. Liptrot, A. Sheriyar.