Brett D’Oliveira says Worcestershire batter Jack Haynes “will achieve everything he wants to achieve” in the game after another stunning knock during the Rapids Vitality Blast win over Birmingham Bears.
Haynes thrilled a packed New Road by making an unbeaten 53 off 24 balls – his second half-century in this summer’s competition.
It followed on from his centuries in three successive matches in the LV=Insurance County Championship, and he is hoping to continue his good form in tomorrow’s Blast meeting with Leicestershire Foxes at New Road (2.30pm start).
Club Captain D’Oliveira, who hit a competition best 71, said: “Jack Haynes played a special knock and what stands out about him is his tremendous maturity.
“I think we all know his capabilities with the bat, but being smart and using his brain, he never lost momentum through that middle period when we lost wickets.
“He has a strong head on his shoulders, and we wish him all the best going forward.
“Jack has kicked on since that first hundred, and I always felt it would be a little bit like that with Jack, and the important thing is he stays in the present all the time.
“I think he has got good people around him like Alex (Gidman) and Kadeer (Ali) and senior players to remind him of that.
“But his work ethic is second to none, and his thought process about the game is absolutely on the right track.
“I’m sure he will achieve everything he wants to achieve.”
D’Oliveira also paid tribute to the “great contribution” made by Rapids overseas player Colin Munro on and off the pitch since arriving at New Road for a third spell.
Munro landed from New Zealand 10 days ago and has quickly made an impact with 186 runs in four knocks to be the Rapids leading scorer heading into Sunday’s home game with Leicestershire Foxes.
He struck half-centuries against Notts Outlaws and Lancashire Lightning and a quickfire 41 to in the .victory over Birmingham Bears at a packed New Road on Friday evening.
D’Oliveira said: “It is always tough coming straight off a plane into a game, and he’s done that and made some great contributions so far.
“But it is not only what he has done on the field. It’s how he has been around the group and how much he has contributed.
“He is a real special character, and he has offered a lot already. Regardless of how his performances go, he has added value wherever.”
D’Oliveira is looking for Worcestershire to build on their opening victory of the 2022 campaign against the Bears.
He said: “It’s about trying to stay in the present and don’t look too far forward, but just keep backing our ability because we know we’re a good team.
“We take it game by game and won’t look any further than Leicestershire, back our abilities, and we are at home again, which is great.”
The Rapids have named an unchanged 14 strong squad for the Foxes game.
Worcestershire Rapids (from):
Ed Pollock
Brett D’Oliveira
Moeen Ali *
Colin Munro
Jack Haynes
Ben Cox +
Ed Barnard
Jake Libby
Dwayne Bravo
Dillon Pennington
Pat Brown
Charlie Morris
Josh Baker
Gareth Roderick
