WORCESTERSHIRE Royals’ hopes of retaining their NatWest Pro40 Division One cr-own were dealt another blow as they crashed to an eight-wicket defeat against Durham Dynamos at New Road.

The County were under strength in the bowling de-partment with new loan signing AJ Harris coming into the team ahead of Chris Whelan.

The Royals were without three of their senior seamers as Simon Jones, Kabir Ali and Matt Mason are in the treatment room with respective knee, back and chest injuries.

So with a weakened attack, Worcestershire needed their batsmen to come to the fore and it was Steven Davies who took up the mantle, but he didnot get the support he needed.

While Graeme Hick became only the second-man to reach 22,000 List ‘A’ runs, Graham Gooch being the other, the Royals were never in the game once that blistering start had come to an end.

Davies, for the second Pro40 match running, lit up the Royals innings with a superb 59. His half-century came off just 30 balls as he dominated the Dynamos bowling.

But once the wicketkeeper was bowled by Ben Harmison, Worcestershire limped to a mediocre 183-9.

Vikram Solanki was first to fall for just three before Ste-phen Moore’s miserable one-day campaign continued.

Hick hit a watchful 35 as he reached the 22,000 List ‘A’ runs mark, while Moeen scratched around for a 58-ball 22.

Michael DiVenuto and Phil Mustard eased along, but the introduction of Gareth Andrew worked immediately.

Having hit a useful 25, the former Somerset man struck with his first ball having Mustard caught behind by Davies for nine.

Imran Arif got the big wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but DiVenuto was in fine form. Along with Paul Collingwood he eased the Dynamos home with 58 balls to spare.

The Australian-born opener was never in trouble as he scored his 97-ball century, while Collingwood hit a 47-ball half-century.