DESPITE Phil Jaques' excellent 113, Worcestershire slipped to their second consecutive Friends Provident Trophy defeat as Nottinghamshire eased past their target of 234-8 with nine balls to spare.

The Australian left-hander beat his previous one-day best score for the County by one run before being dismissed by a Graeme Swann direct hit from fine leg when attempting to complete a two.

The Outlaws' successful chase was built around a well-paced 151-run partnership in 30 overs between skipper David Hussey and Mark Wagh.

Former Warwickshire batsman Wagh took 111 balls to score his 68 but hit boundaries at key moments to keep his side ahead of the required rate, while Hussey smashed six fours and four sixes in his 100-ball 88.

Steve Rhodes' team made a flying start to the competition, skittling Lancashire for just 90 as they won their first game by 92 runs, but have now suffered back-to-back defeats against Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

With overseas bowler Doug Bollinger still ruled out with a hip problem, Worcestershire were undone by their lack of bowling firepower as the visitors reached their target for the loss of just three wickets.

Playing in front of the Sky cameras, the Royals had the option to refer debatable decisions to the third umpire, but even this could not help them in their quest for wickets as their one and only request - a Gareth Batty lbw shout - was rightly rejected by television umpire George Sharp.

Vikram Solanki won the toss and elected to bat and Worcestershire made an impressive start with Jaques and Stephen Moore staging a 73-run stand for the first wicket.

Jaques hit 15 boundaries in his 129-ball knock and put on 65 for the third wicket with Solanki (18), before adding 52 runs with Graeme Hick.

The veteran batsman hit a run-a-ball 41 but was bowled by Mark Ealham looking to step up the run-rate.

Former England all-rounder Ealham took the sting out of Worcestershire's innings by claiming three wickets in the space of five balls as Batty and Roger Sillence followed Hick quickly back to the pavilion.

Nottinghamshire's reply started positively with Bilal Shafayat (25) and Jason Gallian (37) giving the Outlaws a good platform to build on.

After the openers fell to Nadeem Malik and Batty respectively, Wagh and Hus-sey expertly took the game away from the hosts.

Although Hussey was caught off Sillence, the Aussie had put his side in touching distance of victory.