A BATTLING innings from South African all-rounder Zander de Bruyn failed to save Worcestershire Royals from a third defeat in five totesport League Division One games against Middlesex Crusaders at New Road.

Worcestershire were unable to get to grips with a victory target of 225 in a match reduced to 44 overs a side because of rain.

The Royals were restricted to 192-9 despite a battling 55, including six fours off 74 balls, from de Bruyn as the Crusaders maintained their top spot with a 32-run victory.

Worcestershire had earlier made a promising start with a 47-run stand between Vikram Solanki and Ste-phen Moore, but then lost wickets at regular intervals.

England batsman Solanki chipped in with 40, but it was left to de Bruyn to cause Middlesex a few slight problems.

He was eventually trapped leg before by Scott Styris shortly after reaching his fourth consecutive one-day50 for Worcestershire.

Middlesex, after winning the toss, had made 224-7 after being boosted by a 140-run stand in 27 overs between Ed Smith and Styris for the fourth wicket.

They set about the Worcestershire attack after the visitors had lost Paul Weekes, Owais Shah and Ed Joyce for just 38 runs.

Weekes was brilliantly caught one-handed by diving wicketkeeper James Pipe for seven off all-rounder Chaminda Vaas, whose next delivery accounted for Shah.

Joyce was trapped lbw by paceman Kabir Ali before Smith and Styris went on to complete Middlesex's second highest league stand against Worcestershire.

Styris, who survived an appeal for a catch behind off paceman Nadeem Malik while on 20, was particularly severe on England spinner Gareth Batty, whose six overs cost 41 runs.

By the time he fell victim to a stinging caught and bowled chance to paceman de Bruyn, Styris had blasted 80 off 83 balls, which included five huge sixes and three fours.

His tally included 36 off 22 Batty deliveries.

Smith looked to be heading for a deserved century when he was york-ed leg stump by Malik for 93, which contained 10 fours off 122 balls.

Vass bowled Ben Hutton to finish with an impressive 3-31 -- his best one-day figures so far for Worcestershire.

Worcestershire start a four-day Championship match with Durham at New Road tomorrow.