George Rhodes made sizeable contributions with bat and ball as Worcestershire ‘Rapids’ defeated the ‘Royals’ in the traditional early season game involving Seconds and Academy players at Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground.
The all-rounder top-scored with 97 as the Rapids totalled 275-9 in their 50 overs with Academy training group player Charlie Clist also contributing 72.
Off spinner Rhodes then picked up three of the first five wickets to fall as the Royals were bowled out for 219 in 48.1 overs.
All ten of the Royals wickets fell victim to spinners with slow left armer Josh Baker and leg break bowler Josh Dickenson also enjoying success.
The Rapids skipper Alex Milton elected to bat and Rhodes dominated the first half of the innings as he struck two sixes and nine fours in his 96 ball knock before he was fourth out at 165, bowled by Riecko Parker-Cole.
He added 53 with Clist who shared in a further partnership of 64 with Dan Holland.
Clist faced only 62 deliveries and hit four sixes and four fours before his dismissal at 229-5.
Aaron Tomson (10-0-59-2), Parker-Cole (9-1-65-2), George Scrimshaw (4-1-15-1) and Ed Bragg (9-0-62-1) were the wicket-takers while Adam Finch bowled 10 overs for 37 runs.
In reply, Royals openers Ollie Westbury (48) and Xavie Clarke (37) put on 86 before the latter was bowled by Rhodes.
It became 105-4 when Westbury fell to a fine one-handed catch by Cameron Harding at mid-wicket off Dickenson.
Wickets fell steadily before Callum Lea (48) and Finch (30) added 54 for the eighth wicket as the spinners took control.
Lea faced only 40 balls and hit two sixes and four fours before he was lbw to Baker and Finch was last out with 11 balls remaining, caught at long on off the same bowler.
Baker returned figures of 8.1-0-40-4, Rhodes 7-1-13-3 and Dickenson 10-1-39-3.
