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Athey adds his expertise

Trafford. Worcs (187-4) bt Lancs (186-8) by 6 wkts

Bill Athey, the former England batsman, made an unexpected debut for his fourth county when Gavin Haynes went down with a virus shortly before the start of a one-sided meeting with Lancashire.

Looking no less sprightly than when he made his debut with Yorkshire 23 years ago, Athey, wearing No 41 on his green strip to match his age, dropped John Crawley on 30 at short extra cover but his ground fielding was well above average, as was all Worcestershire's out-cricket, with Vikram Solanki outstanding.

By the time Athey, the veteran of 31 limited-over internationals, came in to add a classy 22 not out to his tally of 12,763 one-day runs, the game was as good as over. With only 45 wanted from 26 overs, the former Sussex and Gloucester man, now Worcestershire's coach, saw it through with 28 balls in hand.

Paul Pollard, who figured in a start of 149 against Warwickshire, was again to the fore. And with Ruben Spiring driving with the timing which eluded the Lancashire batsman and reaching a half century from only 49 balls with nine fours, the hundred came in the first 18 overs. Three wickets for the off-spin of Gary Yates merely delayed the inevitable.

On a slow pitch which favoured the spinners, Steve Rhodes, the acting captain, got his sums wrong and left Richard Illingworth, no mean performer at this sort of stuff, with an over unused. The left-armer's figures were spoiled by 17 runs, coming from the last over, which started and ended with towering sixes by Warren Hegg.

The pick of the bowlers, however, was Matthew Rawnsley, another left-armer, whose figures were only marginally marred when Hegg cleared the long-on rope in his final over.