IN-form Vikram Solanki hit another sparkling century as Worcestershire posted their best-ever score in 50-over cricket - but the ultimate winner was the weather.

The home side's imperious 365-7 proved immaterial as the Friends Provident Trophy clash was rained off after just eight overs of Scotland's re-sponse.

The Saltires had struggled to 20-3 after having been 3-3 at one stage as Kabir Ali claimed two scalps and fellow pace bowler Doug Bollinger one.

With the dark clouds looming just four overs into the visitors' run-chase, Solanki brought on spinners Moeen Ali and Ray Price in an attempt to reach the 10-over mark, which is the minimum requirement for a result to stand.

However, drizzle turned to a torrential downpour and even though that eventually subsided, the outfield was sufficiently sodden for no further play to be possible.

If it had not been a dead game, Solanki could have been left to rue his decision to bat, where bowling first may well have meant the Royals could have beaten the weather to achieve a positive result.

As has been the way in recent matches, the skipper and fellow opener Phil Jaques got Worcestershire off to a flying start, this time putting on 143 for the first wicket.

The opening stand was a new County record for the first wicket against Scotland, surpassing the unbroken 138 Solanki and Stephen Moore staged at Edinburgh in 2005.

Both batsmen scored at quicker than a run-a-ball as the Scottish bowling attack - which included new Worcestershire signing Dewald Nel - disappeared to all corners of New Road.

Overseas star Jaques was the first to go, holing out to George Bailey off Ross Lyons for a 58-ball 69, before the same bowler dismissed Moeen Ali.

Solanki put on a further 64 with Ben Smith, who made 59, before the captain picked out Qasim Sheikh in the deep for 132, which came from just 94 balls and featured 14 fours and five sixes.

Graeme Hick hit a four and a six in his 41 but was caught at deep mid-off by John Blain off Nel as the hosts looked to further accelerate.

A clutch of wickets fell in similar fashion as Worcestershire closed on a huge total and Steven Davies was 22 not out at the end of the 50 overs.

Then Kabir trapped Majid Haq with his first ball and Bollinger squeezed one between Bailey's bat and pad to clip off stump.

In his second over Kabir produced a perfect yorker to clean up Sheikh and leave the visitors reeling, but the rain intervened and had the final say.