WORCESTERSHIRE 60-plus started their season by romping to a 121-run win in the traditional opening cricket friendly at Somerset.

The visitors were put into bat first at Bagborough CC, near Taunton, with openers Steve Daniels and Keith Middleton (75) starting well.

They reached 40 before Daniels was bowled for 18 and Tom Whittingham (6) followed quickly.

Ian Walwyn (34) complimented Middleton’s efforts as they took the score to 132 by the 26th over.

Trevor Knowles added 22 and Chris Taylor 24 in the County’s 240-7 from 45 overs.

Thanks to Peter Tudge (3-27) and John Goodreds (1-21), the hosts were on the back-foot as they slumped to 11-3 in seven overs. They moved on to 79-6 by the 33rd over but Worcestershire wrapped up the innings on 119 with Martin Woodward taking 2-3 from four overs and George Batty claiming 2-16.

Colin Groves fired Worcestershire 60-plus second XI to a six-wicket win over Hertfordshire at Overbury CC.

Hertfordshire elected to bat first against the accurate Tony Neel and Graham Thorne but impressed with a 95-run opening partnership.

The visitors scored 193-4 from 45 overs to present a challenging total.

John Peer (2-22) came close to a hat-trick, clean bowling one and then claiming an lbw decision in successive balls. Groves’ 85 not out stole the show in the reply of 194-4 and he hit the winning run in the 42nd over.

Captain Barry Briscoe added 41 and John Shepherd 29 and opener Derek Ebbage 24.

Meanwhile, the Fossils drew with Fred Lloyd’s Spice Cuisine XI in a 35-over invitation match.

Captain Lloyd scored 39 and opener Dave Smith 40 in their 159-8 with Ebbage (28) and Woodward (17) chipping in.

Fossils’ new openers Jack Hobbs (5) and Peter Jewell (13) only put on 11 before the former departed.

Dave Bayliss (26) and top-scorer Taylor (41) transformed the innings but a flurry of wickets left John Reynolds and Tudge together to see out the last over on 138-8.