worcestershire rapids first team coach alex gidman was full of praise for an “unbelievable” display of destructive batting by riki wessels and martin guptill in the nine wicket win over durham in the vitality blast at New Road.
wessels and guptill plundered an astonishing 148 off just 8.5 overs as the rapids chased down a 182 target in 12.1 overs.
wessels smashed 74 off 29 deliveries with five sixes and eight fours while guptill amassed 10 sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 86 from 31 balls.
gidman said: “i’m a little bit lost for words to be totally honest. i think that batting, that partnership, was literally unbelievable.
“it was some of the cleanest striking and powerful hitting i’ve ever seen by two very highly skilled batsmen.
“it was great to watch and i’m sure everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.
“we know how talented they are. guppy (martin guptill) is world renowned as one of the very best and we are fortunate to have him within our group.
“he is a top man and someone who feels at home in our dressing room.
“riki (wessels), by his own admission, has had a frustrating time of it but again we know (that sort of performance) is in the locker.
“it’s a very exciting partnership and will be very exciting to see them throughout the competition.”
the rapids performance was the perfect tonic after friday evening’s setback at emirates old trafford as they chalked up a second blast win of the campaign.
gidman said: “we are a very confident white ball team and, as champions, the team are desperate to perform in every single game and get ourselves as high up the table as possible.
“we know that is in the locker and we’ve had very little time to prepare for t20 so to have that sort of performance so early in the competition is hugely satisfying.
“i’m sure the guys will try their utmost to kick on from this and try and get as close to repeating that as possible although i wouldn’t expect it (quite like that) day in and day out!”
