Graeme Hick made the highest-ever score by a Worcestershire player at New Road with a superb unbeaten 315 off just 386 deliveries.

Hick, whose 405 not out against Somerset at Taunton in 1988 is Worcestershire's record score, hit 49 fours and two sixes on the way to his mammoth knock.

The Zimbabwe-born star started the season slowly, but he has found his form in recent weeks.

And the Durham attack could find no answer to his onslaught.

Hick himself brought his innings to a close, as he was still at the crease when he declared Worcestershire's innings on 643 for seven.

Best score in 2002

The former England man's innings also becomes the highest knock in first-class county cricket this season, bettering John Crawley's 272 for Hampshire against Kent.

Worcestershire already held a 144-run lead overnight, with Hick on 119.

His partnership with Ben Smith was finally worth 171 before Smith was dismissed for 83 by Danny Law.

Three batsmen then failed for the home side with Neil Killeen picking up his second and third wicket, before the tail came in to assist Hick further.

Steven Rhodes hit 27 in a stand of 85 for the seventh wicket and Andy Bichel was on 78 not out off 55 balls, in a stand worth 138, when Hick called it a day.

Worcestershire: W P C Weston, A Singh, G A Hick (Capt), B F Smith V S Solanki, D A Leatherdale, G J Batty, S J Rhodes (Wkt) A J Bichel, Kabir Ali, A Sheriyar.

Durham: J J B Lewis (Capt), G J Pratt, G J Muchall, N Peng M J Symington, A Pratt (Wkt), D R Law, G D Bridge, A M Davies N Killeen, N G Hatch.