Brett D’Oliveira smashed a 49 ball hundred, and there were four wickets apiece for Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington as Worcestershire Rapids warmed up for the Vitality Blast with a 64 run win over a first choice Gloucestershire side in a Second Eleven T20 match at Kidderminster.
Opener D’Oliveira hit seven sixes and seven fours as Worcestershire totalled 244-6 – their highest ever score in the competition – after being put in to bat.
But there were useful contributions all down the order in preparation for tonight’s (Wednesday’s) Blast opener against Notts Outlaws at New Road (5.30pm start).
Tongue then dismissed the first three Gloucestershire batsmen before Pennington joined in with the wicket-taking as the visitors were bowled out for 182 in 19.1 overs.
D’Oliveira’s opening partner, Riki Wessels, struck 24 from 13 deliveries before he was caught at mid-off, and then captain Moeen Ali raced to 34, also from 13 balls, before he holed out to long-off.
Jake Libby made 25 off 16 before he went to cut and was bowled, and Ross Whiteley (14) was taken at deep mid-wicket.
Ben Cox maintained the pace with 28 from just 12 balls until he was caught behind.
D’Oliveira completed his century in the final over with a two down the ground off Ryan Higgins before he was caught at long-off from the next delivery.
Worcestershire surpassed their previous SET20 best of 225 against Warwickshire on the same ground in 2015.
Tongue immediately put Gloucestershire on the back foot with George Hankins, Ian Cockbain, and New Zealand international Glenn Phillips, all bowled by the paceman.
Pennington then accounted for Chris Dent, caught on the leg side, and held onto a return catch from Jack Taylor to leave the total on 51-5.
Graeme van Buuren hit a quickfire 69 from 26 deliveries with six sixes, but Worcestershire were in control and ran out comfortable winners.
Tongue returned to have van Buuren caught by Moeen at extra cover and ended with 4-23 from his four overs while Pennington returned 4-44.
D’Oliveira (1-17) and Ed Barnard (1-30) were the other wicket-takers, while overseas signing Ben Dwarshuis took the new ball and bowled four overs for 35 in his first competitive action for two months in a useful workout.
