GRAEME Hick underlined his determination to get Worcestershire Royals back into the first division of the Norwich Union League with a match-winning innings in yesterday's five-wicket triumph over Sussex Sharks at Kidderminster.

The County skipper hit an unbeaten 61 to enable his side to reach the finishing post with 4.2 overs to spare.

For Worcestershire it was their first win in the competition since June 24 last year.

After that they suffered seven defeats and two no results to end up being relegated along with Sussex and Lancashire Lightning.

Yesterday, however, it was back to winning ways with Hick leading the way along with Steve Rhodes who made 39 not out. They put on an undefeated 82 after Sussex had earlier been restricted to 154-9.

Their partnership spanned 13 overs and ended with Hick notching six fours off 86 balls. Rhodes' tally, off 45 deliveries, also contained six fours.

For the County it was the perfect result and a deserved reward for their decision to switch the match to Kidderminster.

After winning the toss Sussex were indebted to Dutchman Bas Zuiderent. He cracked 53 and figured in his side's only significant stands -- 55 in 12 overs with Robin Martin-Jenkins and 44 in nine with Michael Yardy.

Sussex's innings, however, began to stutter when medium-pacer Stuart Lampitt was drafted into the County attack as he finished with impressive figures of 4-37.

After removing Murray Goodwin he followed up by capturing Richard Montgomerie and Tony Cottey in successive deliveries.

Montgomerie's scalp was his 200th in the competition. He also added Will House to his collection before Zuiderent and Martin-Jenkins began holding up the County's healthy progress. Their stand finally ended when Martin-Jenkins was smartly stumped by Rhodes off spinner Matthew Rawnsley for 26.

Yardy chipped in with 24 along with Zuiderent whose reign ended when he was caught and bowled by Andy Bichel.