Match Details VS Leicestershire Foxes
Metro Bank One Day Cup: Leicestershire Foxes v Worcestershire Rapids
Venue: Uptonsteel County Ground
Date: Sunday 24th August
Scheduled start time: 11am
With the chase for a spot in the quarter-final’s hotting up, Worcestershire Rapids have just two games left to ensure they are one of the sides in contention.
Sunday’s trip to Leicestershire in the penultimate group stage match poses as a potential stumbling block for the Rapids, with the Foxes in need of a win to keep any of their faint hopes of qualification alive.
Last Time Out
A career best List A score of 110* from Rob Jones guided Worcestershire Rapids to an important five-wicket win over Glamorgan and keep them on track for a quarter-final place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Asa Tribe had earlier batted through Glamorgan’s innings for 122 in his side’s impressive total of 297 and looked to be in control early in the reply as they reduced the hosts to 78-3.
A staggering fourth wicket partnership of 172 between Jake Libby (77) and Jones anchored the chase for Worcestershire, as they swung the momentum back in the favour of the home side.
Jones was imperious as he carried his bat, hitting the winning runs in the 49th over having steered the Rapids to a thrilling win and consolidate their charge for a quarter-final spot in Group A.
Inside The Camp
Jake Libby emphasised the importance of his side “staying on task” as they travel to face Leicestershire on Sunday, knowing a win would all but seal a quarter-final place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup
A staggering partnership of 172 between the captain and centurion Rob Jones underpinned another superb batting display from the hosts, as the fourth wicket partnership broke the back of the Rapids run-chase, that saw them chase down Glamorgan’s 297 with five wickets in hand.
Libby, who scored a fourth List A half-century of the season on his way to a fluent 77, says his partnership with Jones was the ideal scenario for any batter to be in.
“When we came together we had just lost those couple of wickets and given what happened with Dan (Lategan), I was determined to make a worthwhile contribution.
“It just felt as though we got the pace of the wicket, our conversations were really clear and positive, so it was just about doing what we needed to and ensure we were taking the positive option whenever we could.
“That worked for us really nicely and obviously Jonesy went on to see the game out for us and batted with real clarity, so I was absolutely chuffed for him and the boys.”
Friday’s result puts the Rapids in pole position for a home quarter final; second in the group and in charge of their own destiny with two fixtures to play.
Sunday’s trip to the Uptonsteel County Ground comes with a new set of challenges however, with the Foxes still mathematically in with a chance of qualifying for the latter stages of the competition themselves, even if other results have to go their way.
Regardless of the home side’s equation, Libby says his team are fully focussed on their own progress and will not be looking any further afield than this weekend’s crucial match-up.
“We have found a bit of a formula that has served us really well so far this season in the 50-over format, mainly when one of our batters goes big or we secure a big partnership and the bowlers seem to turn up at the really important moments.
“As a batting group that looks like partnerships and building a score that gives our bowlers a chance on the day to hopefully execute their skills.
“Friday has been and gone, all attentions are on turning up and doing what we have been doing as we did in what has been a very positive tournament so far. They (Leicestershire) have a lot of really good players and a lot of threats within their side, so we won’t be worrying about what is next or thinking past Sunday.
“We have a good feeling in the dressing room at the moment and I am sure we will be staying on task to ensure we give ourselves the best chance of winning the game.”
The Opposition
Last result: Tied with Derbyshire
Table position: 6th
One to watch: Shan Masood
Winners in 2023 and semi-finalists last year, Leicestershire are a side chasing qualification and not short of quality.
Their dramatic last ball tie against Derbyshire Falcons last time out may have been a thriller for the neutral, but Foxes fans will be all too aware that is has left their side with some work to do in order to extend their stay in this year’s competition.
Current man-of-the-moment Rehan Ahmed will be otherwise engaged, but overseas batting stars Peter Handscomb and Shan Masood and explosive opener Sol Budinger will continue to compete for the spotlight in his absence.
After a relatively modest contribution to the Foxes’ Vitality Blast campaign, Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will be keen to make his mark in this competition, playing a format in which he has enjoyed considerable success, averaging 52.48 with 15 hundreds
Squad vs Leicestershire Foxes
