Worcestershire Rapids secured a home semi-final in the Metro Bank One Day Cup after cantering to a six-wicket win over Surrey at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Making an unexpected appearance, Gus Atkinson top-scored for the visitors with 60, but Worcestershire’s bowlers took wickets with frequency to restrict their opponents to 266-6.
In reply, 19-year-old Dan Lategan registered a maiden List A fifty at the top of the order for the Rapids, before Kashif Ali (80) propelled the home side into pole position.
Skipper Jake Libby’s unbeaten half-century steered Worcestershire to a comfortable win, as the Rapids secured top spot in Group A and now wait to learn who they will face in Sunday’s semi-final.
In the final fixture of Group A, Worcestershire Rapids welcomed Surrey to Visit Worcestershire New Road with hopes of securing a home semi-final in the Metro Bank One Day Cup still very much alive.
On a day where the ground turned Blue for Bakes, in celebration of the JB33 Foundation, more changes were afoot for the hosts, with Alan Richardson resting Ethan Brookes, Matthew Waite and Ben Allison, whilst youngster Jack Home missed out through injury.
In came Fateh Singh, Adam Finch, Khurram Shahzad and Tom Taylor as the bowling attack was freshened up in preparation for the contest against a Surrey side out of sorts.
Tom Taylor vindicated Jake Libby’s choice to bowl first as he castled Adam Thomas in his third over of the morning, with a full ball that angled back in and rattled into off stump getting the home side off to the ideal start.
With Rory Burns and Ben Foakes at the crease, the Surrey threat was very apparent, but any concerns were nipped in the bud by the returning Khurram Shahzad, who had Foakes removed courtesy of a sharp catch at slip by Rob Jones.
A brief rain interruption in the 11th over saw the teams lose an over apiece, upon resumption, however, Burns looked unphased as he made his way towards fifty.
The introduction of Ben Gibbon into the attack soon changed that narrative, as the left-armer hurried Burns with a back of a length ball that the former England opener could only direct straight to Jones, who took another smart catch low down at short mid-wicket.
Surrey made their way to drinks having added 55 more to their total for the fourth wicket, with Gibbon catching the eye as he helped to restrict the flow of runs as he produced another efficient spell.
Tom Taylor’s return pegged the visitors back further still, when he picked up the big wicket of Surrey skipper Ollie Sykes as Worcestershire secured their fourth scalp with the away side on 125.
Gus Atkinson came to the middle to join the not-out Blake with the England bowler, making only his third List A appearance for the club, highlighting his batting prowess that has seen him register a test match hundred.
Blake made his way to 43, before Fateh Singh trapped the batter LBW with a full delivery that beat the bat as Worcestershire reduced Surrey to 160-5, looking to cash in on their dominant position.
Atkinson had other ideas however, making his highest List A score of 60, as he provided some resistance to the hosts’ bowling attack during an eye-catching counter attack, eventually ended as he was bowled by Khurram, but some lusty blows from Nikhil Gorantla saw the away side finish their 49 overs 266-6.
Having last met in List A cricket back in 2017, Brett D’Oliveira and 19-year-old rising star Dan Lategan catapulted the host to a flying start, with D’Oliveira making an enterprising 45 as the pair added 83 for the first wicket.
Lategan continued in the wake of his opening partner’s dismissal, recording his maiden List A half-century from 45 balls, stroking nine boundaries during another eye-catching innings.
Kashif Ali joined Lategan and produced a typically explosive start to his innings, racing to 34 from just 25 balls, but was stalled momentarily after seeing the wicket of Lategan, who had impressed once again for an eye-catching 54.
Worcestershire passed 150 in the 21st over, with Surrey’s bowlers struggling to build any pressure.
Captain Jake Libby, averaging 62 in this year’s competition as he made his way to the middle, helped guide the Rapids beyond 200 despite losing Kashif in the process for an exhilarating 80 from 58 balls, when the number three was caught in the deep looking to clear the boundary.
Yousef Majid (2-57) returned the best figures for Surrey on a day where no other bowler registered an economy below six an over.
With the required run rate dropping below two an over, Worcestershire skipper Jake Libby guided his side to victory as he finished unbeaten on 53, seeing the Rapids through to the knock-out stages as they wait to learn their semi-final opponents.
