WORCESTERSHIRE clinched their first one-day win at New Road for 11 months when a crucial half-century from Vikram Solanki helped lift them to a three-wicket victory in yesterday's Norwich Union League Division Two clash against Derbyshire.

The Royals triumphed with four balls to spare after determined Solanki had cracked 52.

Facing a testing victory target of 169, the County made a shaky start by losing Anurag Singh, skipper Graeme Hick and Paul Pollard to paceman Tim Munton inside the opening 11 overs.

Hero Solanki and David Leatherdale, however, began tipping the balance in their grateful side's favour with an 84-run stand in 20 overs.

Their vital partnership ended when acting captain Munton removed Leatherdale for 38 to finish with figures of 4-31.

Battling Solanki continued to prosper but, after losing the companionship of Andy Bichel and Nick Boulton, was caught behind by Karl Krikken off Nathan Dumelow.

He stroked one six and three fours off 100 deliveries in what his first limited-over half-century since June 11.

His dismissal made it 141-7 and paved the way for Steve Rhodes (26 not out) and Stuart Lampitt (6 not out) to guide the County to their second league win of the season.

The winning blow was a firmly struck boundary by Rhodes off his former New Road team-mate Richard Illingworth.

For the Derbyshire Scorpions it was the first league defeat of the campaign and followed victories over Essex and Glamorgan.

After winning the toss they made 168-6, a total built on a 61-run stand in 14 overs between openers Rob Bailey and Michael Di Venuto.

The partnership was eventually broken by Alamgir Sheriyar who trapped Bailey leg before for 17.

Australian Di Venuto, a century-maker on Saturday in the County Championship Division Two match between the two sides, fell in the next over when he became a lbw scalp for Lampitt for 27.

Mathew Dowman soon followed, offering a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Rhodes off Leatherdale for three.

A catch at deep backward square leg by Solanki accounted for Luke Sutton off Matthew Rawnsley for 18 before the the County spinner tempted Graeme Welch to knock up a simple chance to Leatherdale at short mid-wicket for 17.

Sheriyar dismissed Krikken for 13 leaving Wasim Khan as the Scorpions Derbyshire's top scorer with an undefeated 30, contained two fours off 56 balls.