Worcestershire Rapids and Worcestershire Royals were involved in a thrilling tie at Kidderminster in an 50 over internal match between primarily Academy players and young professionals.
The game reached its climax with Xavier Clarke – younger brother of Joe Clarke – needing three off the final delivery from Chris Russell for the Royals to reach a 236 target.
He collected two runs and the scores finished level with the Rapids having scored 235-9 and the Royals responding with 235-8.
The Rapids X1 were put into bat and there were useful contributions down the order but the most significant partnerships involved Jamie Hammond who scored 39 not out.
He added 40 for the ninth wicket with George Scrimshaw and then an unbroken 38 for the last wicket with Nick Hammond.
Billy Cox returned the most successful figures for the Royals, finishing with 4-35 from his 10 overs.
In reply, the Royals were given a flying start by George Rhodes and Jack Haynes – the younger son of former Worcestershire all-rounder Gavin Haynes.
They put on 137 for the first wicket before Rhodes was dismissed for 48 and Haynes retired not out on 70.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals with Russell, George Scrimshaw and Dan Lloyd collecting two apiece before the exciting climax to the game.
RAPIDS
Hepburn c J Hammond b Cox 24
Josh Haynes lbw Cox 15
Badger c Tegg b Cox 9
Wiffen b Rhodes 20
Shazad b Cox 1
Wilcox c Malik b Smith 28
Russell b Clarke 24
J Hammond not out 39
Lloyd c Clarke b Ahmed 3
N Hammond not out 29
Extras 24
Total (for 9 wickets) 235 in 50 overs.
FOW: 26, 52, 61, 63, 99, 128, 143, 157, 197
BOWLING
Brown 10-2-32-0
Finch 3-0-20-0
Cox 10-2-35-4
Rhodes 7-1-51-1
Smith 4-0-20-1
Clarke 6-1-23-1
Ahmed 10-0-48-2
ROYALS
Rhodes c Lloyd b Scrimshaw 48
Jack Haynes retired not out 70
Finch run out 6
Malik c Russell b Shazad 11
Hassan lbw Lloyd 0
Smith c Russell b Lloyd 17
Ahmed b Russell 16
Cox b Scrimshaw 16
Brown c Wilcox b Russell 14
Tegg not out 9
Clarke not out 2
Extras 26
Total (for 8 wickets) 235 in 50 overs.
FOW: 137, 137 (Haynes), 152, 152, 160, 176, 209, 211, 232
BOWLING
Russell 10-1-41-2
Scrimshaw 10-0-39-2
Hepburn 10-2-30-0
Shazad 8-0-47-1
Lloyd 9-1-49-2
J Hammond 3-0-27-0
