WORCESTERSHIRE under 17s went down by five wickets to their Hampshire counterparts in their opening Royal London One-Day Cup clash despite a superb recovery from their lower order batsmen at Stourport.

The home side elected to bat and made a promising start as they reached 84-1 with opener Pete Clark (34) and Xavie Clarke (27) making useful contributions.

Six wickets then fell for 12 runs to leave Worcestershire placed on 96-7.

It was a fine effort from numbers eight to 11 – plus 43 extra including 32 wides – which lifted their final total to 216 all out in 49.3 overs.

Keeper Sam Flavell (33) and captain Matt Davis (28) put on 67 for the eighth wicket and then the final pair of Nathan Hines (18 not out) and Charlie Greening (19) added a further 38.

When Hampshire batted, Davis and Hines, who went onto finish with the excellent figures of 3-32 from his 10 overs, both made an early breakthrough.

But a third wicket stand of 115 between Hampshire skipper Fletcha Middleton (74 not out) and George Metzger (58) proved to be decisive.

Worcestershire will continue their One-Day Cup campaign on Sunday when they take on Somerset under 17s at Clevedon.