Head Coach Alex Gidman said the Worcestershire CCC players “did themselves proud” after completing an emphatic eight wicket win over Gloucestershire at Bristol in the Bob Willis Trophy.
The County launched their campaign with impressive performances with bat and ball throughout the four days before victory was completed with 8.5 overs to spare.
Gidman is delighted to have seen the team put into practice what they have been working on throughout an elongated close season programme which started last November.
He said: “I’m really pleased for the lads. It’s obviously been a long three or four months but, even stretching back to the end of last season, they worked extremely hard during the winter.
“Although it is only one game, I’m delighted for them to have performed like they did. It’s how we’ve talked about trying to play and they executed it perfectly and they’ve done themselves proud.
“We talked about being more patient and more composed on all days as often as possible. That’s what we are trying to do.
“There will be many ups and downs but, when it comes together over four days, we believe that is what we are capable of, building pressure and playing some good cricket.
“We’ve spoken about playing better cricket for longer and that was a good example and long may it continue.
“We’ve also spoken about being a bit more composed and just reminding ourselves of the basic things we are trying to do perhaps when the pressure comes on a little bit and just taking a step back and being aware of what they are trying to do – and we did that very well.”
Gidman was pleased with the debut of opening batsman Jake Libby – and his partnership with Daryl Mitchell and the contribution of Jack Haynes who scored his maiden first class half century.
He said: “We know how experienced Daryl is and how capable he is still and Jake has done exactly what we thought he would do.
“He defends very well, plays straight, very composed, very level-headed but equally puts the bad ball away so they are a good combination. It is great to start that partnership in such good fashion.
“Having Jack is like having another signing in the sense that we’ve now got him full-time for the first time. It just adds depth and more competition.
“He is a very hungry young cricketer and is desperate to do well which is a good sign for Worcestershire CCC.”
The Worcestershire attack produced a disciplined performance throughout with Charlie Morris and Josh Tongue both claiming six wickets in the game.
Gidman said: “We did some homework on the venue. We knew what to expect from the wicket which was very helpful.
“We had got to be flexible if that wasn’t the case but all the stats of the last few years were exactly right and the wicket played exactly as we thought it would do.
“We were ready for it, we had a game plan and we executed it really well.”
