Captain Jake Libby continued his superb form in the Metro Bank One Day Cup to inspire Worcestershire Rapids to a three wicket win over Kent Spitfires at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Libby struck his fourth half century in five knocks in this summer’s 50 over tournament to lead the Rapids to a fourth win and maintain their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
His 75 off 68 balls was largely instrumental in Worcestershire reaching a 259 target with seven balls to spare.
Libby has now scored 287 runs at an average of 143.50 and this after being his side’s leading One Day Cup run-getter in 2022 and 2023.
Rob Jones determined half century was also pivotal to another Rapids success with a side missing nine senior players through illness and injury.
A three-wicket blast from Jack Home had been largely responsible for reducing the Spitfires to 70-5.
Kent were indebted to List A best batting performances from Charlie Stobo and Grant Stewart as they recovered to 259 all out with on loan spinner Fateh Singh claiming three of the last four wickets.
Australian overseas signing Stobo surpassed his previous best score of 32 not out in making 72 off 79 balls and he dominated a partnership of 91 with Stewart for the seventh wicket.
Stewart then took over the mantle of chief aggressor and he went past his previous highest of 57 before being last out for 78 off 60 deliveries.
Home has taken 12 wickets in just three appearances in the One Day Cup and again confirmed his promise although he was latterly on the receiving end of the Stobbo-Stewart onslaught and will learn from the experience.
Singh finished with figures of 3-51 for the second successive match.
The Kent seamers then bowled a disciplined line and length to put the home side behind the required rate.
But Jones dug in and showed great application to keep them in the hunt and then Libby paced his knock to perfection before he was run out with 26 needed and then Hishaam Khan cut Stobo for the winning boundary.
Worcestershire made two changes from the side in action against Northamptonshire with Home and the fit again Tommy Sturgess replacing the rested Tom Taylor and Harry Darley.
Libby won the toss and put the Spitfires into bat on a pitch previously used for the Vitality Blast game against Lancashire Lightning in late May.
Sturgess took the new ball from the Diglis End and struck with his fourth delivery when Marcus O’Riordan went for an ambitious drive and was bowled via an inside edge.
Khan shared the attack from the New Road and also made an early breakthrough when Beyers Swanepoel went for a pull and was caught down the legside by keeper Gareth Roderick.
Jack Leaning was then fortunate to edge Sturgess just wide of second slip for four before a rain break reduced the match to 48 overs per side.
Leaning and Joey Evison attempted to rebuild the innings but after adding 41 the former on 15 cut Jack Home in his second over straight to Ethan Brookes at backward point.
Home then struck twice in an over to reduce the visitors to 70-5.
Harry Finch was undone by a delivery which nipped back and became the second player to be bowled through an inside edge.
Then four balls later Evison (23) fenced at a delivery and edged through to Roderick in the 17th over.
Spinner Tom Hinley came into the attack and he accounted for Jaydyn Denly who was bowled through the game from a delivery which turned.
Stobo went on the offensive with three boundaries in an over and he and Stewart played sensibly.
Stewart survived a difficult chance at mid wicket off Singh.
Stobo completed a 55 ball half century and the partnership was broken when he was stumped after aiming a big blow at Singh down the ground.
Stewart struck successive sixes on his way to a half century off 49 balls before Singh picked up two wickets in the space of three balls.
Hamidullah Qadri was pouched at deep mid wicket and then Singh bowled Matt Parkinson to claim his third scalp.
But Stewart struck two more sixes before being bowled by Khan in the final over after hitting five maximums and six fours.
Singh ended with 3-51, Home 3-62, Khan 2-44, Hinley 1-23 and Sturgess 1-34 while Brookes bowled another tight spell in conceding just 42 runs in his 10 overs.
When Worcestershire launched their reply, Ed Pollock despatched Stewart for 6-4-4 in the space of four balls but on 21 then nicked a ball of extra bounce from the same bowler through to the keeper.
Rob Jones cover drove Stewart to the ropes as the 50 came up in the 11th over.
Roderick swept Stobo for six over backward square leg and added 49 with Rob Jones before on 33 he was trapped lbw by Gilchrist to a ball of full length.
Jones was joined by Libby who came into the match averaging more than 200 with the bat in this year’s competition.
A cut for four at Stewart’s expense enabled Jones to complete his fifty off 80 balls but in his next over he fell to a return catch after adding 70 with Libby.
Brookes was soon into his stride with a ramp shot for six off Stewart although he then holed out to deep mid-wicket off Stobo at 177-4.
Libby completed his fourth half century in five knocks in this year’s competition with successive scoop shots for four from Stobo before Rehaan Edavalath top edged a return catch to Gilchrist.
The game took another twist when Libby turned Stobo on the on side and was run out attempting a risky second run for a superb 75 off 68 balls.
Singh then drilled Stewart to Gilchrist at cover with 21 required but Hinley and Khan showed great nerve and coolness to complete a memorable Worcestershire win.
