WORCESTERSHIRE will play three home four-day matches in their bid to lift the Bob Willis Trophy, including a mouth-watering clash with local rivals Warwickshire when county cricket returns in August and early September.

The County will face Glamorgan, Warwickshire and Somerset at Blackfinch New Road in the regionalised competition which has been split into three groups.

In addition, Worcestershire will face away matches against Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire.

Each County will play five group-stage matches – one against each county in their group – with the two group winners with the most points set to progress to a five-day final.

Because of the odd number of fixtures to be played in each group, some counties will only stage two home games.

However, Worcestershire will entertain Glamorgan, starting on August 8, Warwickshire from August 22 and Somerset beginning on September 6.

Worcestershire will travel to face Gloucestershire from August 1 and Northamptonshire starting on August 15.

The Bob Willis Trophy will hold first-class status, but is a separate competition from the County Championship.

Fixtures for the women’s domestic competition are set to be announced alongside confirmation of the full schedule for the Vitality Blast next month. The Vitality Blast will commence on August 27.

The county's preparations for the season are continuing, with an intra-squad warm up being played at New Road last week.

The match saw several encouraging performances – including a half century for newcomer Jake Libby and a match-winning knock from Jack Haynes.

Two teams entitled ‘Team Richo’ and ‘Team Ali’ skippered by Joe Leach and Ed Barnard respectively, were made up of senior and Academy players in a match which produced plenty of competitive cricket as part of the build-up to the new campaign.

Daryl Mitchell top-scored for Team Richo with 90 out of a first innings total of 228-7 declared.

Mitchell struck 13 boundaries in his 198-ball knock before he nicked a delivery to keeper Alex Milton.

Joe Leach made 36 off 42 deliveries until he was caught at mid off by Academy player Pete Clark. Ben Twohig (21) and Dillon Pennington (15 not out) also made useful runs.

Josh Tongue (2-54) and Charlie Morris (1-60) shared the new ball and Pat Brown (1-21) bowled 10 overs on his return to action after a back injury. Ed Barnard was the pick of the bowlers with 3-49.

His team then totalled 185-7 declared off 59 overs in reply with Riki Wessels, batting at number four, contributing 64 off 86 balls with two sixes and eight fours.

Leach (1-39) and Dillon Pennington (1-21) were the new ball bowlers, Adam Finch claimed 3-48 from 15 overs and spinner Twohig dismissed (1-28) dismissed Wessels.

When Team Richo batted for a second time, Mitchell made 32 before retiring out on 72.

Libby, signed from Nottinghamshire on a three-year contract last winter, and Tom Fell then both hit half centuries during an unbroken partnership of 90.

The declaration came at 162-1 off 43 overs with Libby 59 not out (108 balls, six fours) and Fell unbeaten on 55 (91 balls, eight fours).

Team Ali achieved an eight wicket win as they reached 207-2 in 62 overs with Haynes unbeaten on 82 from 110 balls with 16 fours.