PHIL JAQUES completed a remarkable first week for Worcestershire by following a hundred on his championship debut with a century on his one-day debut. His fine 112 off 117 balls propelled the home side to a total of 256 that was always likely to be beyond Northamptonshire’s reach after they had limped to 40 for four in the eighteenth over.

Thanks to the New South Welshman, who shared a third-wicket stand of 134 in 25 overs with Ben Smith, Worcestershire hopes of reaching the C & G Trophy final are very much alive, particularly after defeats for Derbyshire and Lancashire.

Northamptonshire, who started the season full of hope after performing well in one-day cricket last year, have yet to win this campaign.

On a slow pitch smothered in the new ECB-approved paste for the first time at New Road, Jaques managed only five fours, but he did clear the boundary on three occasions. He came down the wicket to the medium pace of both Ben Phillips and Bilal Shafayat to drive them straight for six, as well as sweeping Jason Brown into the copper beach tree by the river. Northamptonshire paid heavily for dropping Jaques on 36, 72 and 81.

Zaheer Khan, Worcestershire’s other import, again proved his worth with three wickets in his first four overs. Shafayat was held low at second slip, Usman Afzaal yorked and Rob White caught behind. When David Sales played on and Chris Rogers was fifth out in the 33rd over, the required rate of nearly ten an over proved too much even for Lance Klusener, who toiled for 115 balls over his 85.