Trevor Ward - great knock at Grace Road Photo CricInfo

Gloucestershire opened their Benson & Hedges Cup campaign in rampant style, scything through the Worcestershire batting line-up at New Road to dismiss the home team for just 70, their lowest-ever total in the competition. Kabir Ali then took three wickets as Gloucestershire reached the victory target in the 19th over.

Gloucestershire, who have contested the last three finals, winning in 1999 and 2000, at one point had Worcestershire reeling on 14 for six. Ian Harvey and Jon Lewis did the damage, Harvey dismissing Stephen Peters with his third ball.

Graeme Hick (2) was caught behind, and Vikram Solanki lost his off stump to Jon Lewis. David Leatherdale (1) was bowled by Harvey and Ben Smith (0) was beaten by a delivery from Lewis which nipped back. Amid the carnage, Harvey finished with 4-21 and Lewis 4-41.

At the Rose Bowl Kent successfully defended what initially seemed a meagre total of 183/8. Alan Mullally (2-29) was the pick of Hampshire's attack. Kent, 25/4 at one point, were indebted to Paul Nixon (42), Matthew Walker (35) and James Golding (34*) for engineering a limited recovery. Although James Hamblin and Neil Johnson made a promising start to Hampshire's reply, the home team subsided from 49 without loss to 115 all out. Matthew Fleming (3-12) was the pick of the bowlers, with Martin Saggers, David Masters and Andrew Symonds taking two wickets each.

At Grace Road, centuries from Trevor Ward and Michael Bevan enabled Leicestershire to defeat a battling Durham by just 32 runs. Ward made 126 and Bevan 114 as the home side reached a daunting 316/6 off their 50 overs. Neil Killeen (2-28) was the star of an otherwise lacklustre bowling performance. Although 67 from Nicky Peng gave them some early hope, Durham was always struggling to keep up with the required rate - and they finished on 284/8.

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