FORMER England batsman Graeme Hick rewrote the record books against North-amptonshire, scoring a record-equalling eighth career century in the Friends Provident Trophy.

The 41-year-old, who scored 120 off just 119 balls in the Royals' six-wicket win at Wantage Road, equalled Robin Smith and Nick Knight's recordof eight tons in the competition.

But despite Hick taking his tally in the competition to 2,097 career runs, Warwick-shire's win over Scotland means the Royals can no longer qualify for the semi-finals.

Earlier, Worcestershire won the toss and chose to bat but lost former Northamptonshire opener Phil Jaques in the fourth over for just nine when he was out leg before wicket to David Lucas.

Vikram Solanki was then dropped in the slips by a diving Stephen Peters two overs later off the same bowler as Worcestershire wobbled.

But Lucas got his revenge in the eighth over when the Royals skipper edged his delivery into the waiting hands of wicketkeeper Riki Wessels having scored only 10.

Moeen Ali and Ben Smith halted the decline with a third-wicket partnership of 42, before Ali dragged Richard Dawson on to his own stumps while trying an attempted sweep.

The left-hander had been dropped by the former England spinner the previous delivery and made a valuable 44.

That brought veteran Hick to the crease and together with Smith the former England batsman set about building a fourth wicket partnership of 72.

Smith survived a stumping attempt while on 29 off the bowling of young left-arm spinner Graeme White.

However, his resistance was finally ended when he cut Mark Nelson to Richard Logan in the deep for the England Under 19 man's first wicket of the season.

Steven Davies was the next man to the crease and he was dropped by Northamptonshire captain David Sales at midwicket on just eight.

But in the 39th over Davies was back to the pavilion for 27 as he drove a wide delivery to Peters at mid-on.

Hick reached his century in the 47th over and the highlight of his innings was a huge six back down the ground off the hapless Logan - who had a debut to forget after taking no wickets and conceding 76 runs.

The 41-year-old was out off the last ball of the innings after scoring 120 runs, while Gareth Batty added 36 not out as Worcester set the hosts a challenging 303 for victory.

Northamptonshire began their reply positively with both Peters and Usman Afzaal not afraid to take on the Royals' pace attack.

But Peters was on his way for just 12 in the sixth over when he drove a Kyle Hogg delivery straight to Solanki in the covers. Afzaal followed soon after and the writing was on the wall.