Hick and Smith break partnership record

Graeme Hick insisted his hunger to take his toll on county bowlers has not been diminished after his double century and a late collapse helped put Worcestershire in a strong position against Gloucestershire at New Road. Hick hammered a superb 262 off 397 balls with 35 fours and three sixes as he and Ben Smith shared in a record-breaking stand of 417 in a county championship Division One game. It was Hick's second double hundred in nine days after his unbeaten 204 against New Zealand.

Worcestershire declared at 619 for 6 and then Nadeem Malik and Gareth Batty were instrumental in reducing the visitors to 108 for 6 by the close as they lost six wickets for 53 runs in 22 overs.

Smith also matched Hick run for run in registering 187 from 310 balls with 26 fours and two sixes - his highest score for the county. It was the highest-ever partnership in more than a century of cricket on the ground, surpassing the 380 by CJB Wood and H Whitehead for Leicestershire against Worcestershire in 1906.

Hick said: "The hunger is still there for me to score runs. Every time I go out to bat, it's a challenge. Every day is different, every wicket is different. Some are hard work, some are a little bit easier but the more time you spend at the crease the better. I have set my sights this year of making the most of my opportunities and, once I get myself in, not to give things away. I didn't bat so well last year and this year I've tried to get myself focused and knuckle down a bit more."

There were more batting exploits at Headingley, where the South African-born Kevin Pietersen hit 167 on the first day of Nottinghamshire's county championship game against Yorkshire. He struck as the visitors amassed 393, before the hosts lost Matthew Wood in the six overs possible before the close to finish on 10 for one. Pietersen, not classed as an overseas player by virtue of his English mother, is expected to play for his adopted country almost as soon as his qualification period ends in September.