WORCESTERSHIRE were today sweating over the fitness of skipper Daryl Mitchell after he left the field injured in the Royals’ six-wicket defeat to Derby-shire Falcons in the Clydesdale Bank 40.

The 27-year-old was unable to complete his third over at New Road when he strained a muscle in his side in the follow through of the fifth ball.

It means there is now a big question mark over the Worcestershire captain’s fitness for the LV= County Championship Division One match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston starting on Wednesday.

Worcestershire have not named a vice-captain this year and director of cricket Steve Rhodes will have to decide who will take charge should the Badsey-born opener not recover in time.

Former captain Vikram Solanki, who resigned his six-year tenure late last season, took charge of matters on the field against the Falcons and the County chief may ask him to take up the reins again in the interim.

The injury to Mitchell just about summed up a disappointing day for the Royals as they struggled with the bat leaving the bowlers very little to defend as the Falcons eased home with eight balls to spare.

Moeen Ali fell in the second over as he became the first of four Tim Groene-wald victims chipping to Azeem Rafiq at cover without scoring before Alexei Kervezee and Solanki fell to leave the Royals 37-3 in the 11th over.

The star of the Worcestershire batting was James Cameron. Having hit a 24-ball 31 at Kent last week to steer the Royals to victory, the Zimbabwe-born all-rounder struck a career-best 69 in the County’s modest total of 171.

But it could have been more as he was run out by Greg Smith going for a needless second run.

The former Zimbabwe U19 international shared good stands with Mitchell and Neil Pinner, but his departure signalled the end for the hosts as they lost their last three wickets in five balls.

Their total was never going to be enough for Worcestershire to defend and Australian import Usman Khawaja and Hughes got the Falcons off to a dream start with their reply.

Finding the boundary at regular intervals, Chesney Hughes pulled Andrew over square leg for six in the 11th over.

But it was skipper Mitchell who broke the opening wicket 84-run partnership in the 19th over when he trapped Hugh-es lbw with his first delivery.

However, Mitchell left the field as he picked up a side-strain before Khawaja steered Derby home with an unbeaten 89 in the 39th over.