Worcestershire’s unbeaten run in Group A of the Metro Bank One Day Cup was ended on Sunday as Gloucestershire inflicted a six-wicket defeat on the Rapids were made to pay for an under par batting display.
For the first time this campaign, no Worcestershire batter was able to kick-on to a score of note, as Kashif Ali top-scored with 36 in a scorecard that saw plenty of starts but no significant partnerships as the Rapids were restricted to 237-8.
In reply, the hosts were unable to penetrate the Gloucestershire batting line-up on a frequent basis, as three batters passed fifty in a frustrating afternoon for the hosts as the home side were resigned to a disappointing six-wicket defeat.
Still in good shape for knockout qualification, the Rapids can enjoy a short break before they begin preparations for Friday’s important home clash with Glamorgan.
With the stage set at Visit Worcestershire New Road for a hotly anticipated clash, first met second under bright blue skies in Group A of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Losing the toss and invited to bat first, Worcestershire made two changes with Jack Home and Tom Taylor returning to the side in place of Dan Lategan and Ben Allison.
For the first time in this year’s competition, the Rapids top order were put under serious scrutiny as a consequence of some accurate and disciplined bowling from the visiting attack.
In a testing opening period, the home side were reduced to 59-3, with the glorious overhead conditions and fast outfield little consolation as the side top of the group flexed their bowling muscles.
Isaac Mohammed batted studiously for 15 from 53 balls but could only find the sub fielder in the deep when looking to cut the shackles, shortly before Brett D’Oliveira’s promising start was ended on 26 when he feathered a ball behind that diminished any hopes from the Worcestershire faithful that he may be able to continue his glorious recent form.
In a similar vein, the ever reliable and in-form Jake Libby could only manage 4 before he was given out LBW, the first time he has been dismissed below 30 in this year’s tournament.
The recovery came from Kashif Ali and Ethan Brookes, who combined to add 62 for the fourth wicket in a promising counter-attack that stabilised proceedings and took the home side beyond 120.
The hosts’ fightback was blighted however by the loss of both set batters in back-to-back overs, as Kashif was caught behind for 36 and Brookes succumbed to a stunning catch in the outfield off the bowling of the very impressive Josh Shaw, for 31.
At 125-5 with 20 overs remaining in the innings, the Rapids were reliant on Henry Cullen and Matthew Waite to provide the home side with a foothold in the match.
In a partnership of 53, Cullen batted with the freedom and composure supporters have come to expect from the young wicket keeper, but a mistimed pull shot in the 41st over spelt the end of his 35-run cameo.
Waite lasted until the 44th over, when his innings was ended in tame fashion as he was caught and bowled for a spritely 28, but his side in danger of finishing under-par at 188-7.
A late Tom Taylor salvo of 25 dragged the home side back into the game two sixes in the final over from Fateh Singh saw the Rapids end on 237-8.
Worcestershire’s opening bowlers Tom Taylor and Khurram Shahzad started in economical style, keeping both openers restricted in their scoring during the opening exchanges, with pressure building.
That pressure told in the sixth over as Khurram had James Bracey caught at slip for eight, bringing Ollie Price to the middle.
The visitors batted through past the fifty mark, in what looked like the start of a potentially threatening partnership, with danger man Cameron Bancroft still occupying the crease.
His resistance was ended thanks to a sublime piece of fielding from Libby, who threw down the stumps at the strikers end to catch Bancroft, who had initially hesitated in his pursuit of a single, with a direct hit from mid-on and end his innings of 29 before it could get going.
Price continued his excellent start, as he and Ben Charlesworth came together to take the visitors past 150, both enjoying fruitful stays in the middle.
No sooner had both batters registered their respective half-centuries however, had Gloucestershire lost two wickets without scoring a run, as both the set batters were dismissed in consecutive overs.
The fightback was triggered by Khurram, who had Price caught behind for 66, and the hosts’ tails were up when Charlesworth steered a Waite short-ball straight to Isaac deep on the legside boundary for 50.
From then on however, it was plain sailing for the visitors, as a fourth wicket stand of 82 between Jack Taylor (50*) and Graeme van Buuren (25*) steered the away side to a six-wicket win and inflicted a first loss of the campaign for the hosts in this year’s competition.
