George Rhodes had a debut to remember for Worcestershire Rapids – and then Joe Leach powered them towards their 171 target with a 25 ball half century in the Royal London One-Day Cup match with Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley today.
Spinner Rhodes returned figures of 2-34 after bowling his 10 overs in one spell and picking up the wickets of Alex Lees and Will Rhodes.
He bowled in tandem with fellow spinner Brett D'Oliveira (2-49) for much of his spell and the pair of them had a tight grip on the Yorkshire batsmen.
Leach and Jack Shantry set the tone in accurate spells with the new ball – only two boundaries came in the initial 10 over powerplay – and Worcestershire never relinquished their grip after the home side opted to bat.
Then Leach was promoted to open and he and Tom Kohler-Cadmore hammered 107 in 13 overs as the Rapids triumphed by seven wickets with 24.3 overs to spare.
It was Shantry who made the first breakthrough when Adam Lyth (9) nicked a ball that bounced through to keeper Ben Cox who held onto a good low catch.
The new ball conceded just 28 runs in 12 overs before Ed Barnard came into the attack and a ball of full length accounted for Jack Leaning (23) who also edged through to Cox.
By then Rhodes was already into the attack and he quickly settled into a good line and length.
His moment of glory came when Lees (19) was undone by a ball that straightened and was trapped lbw.
Rhodes was hugged by all his team-mates including D'Oliveira who then got in on the act by having Gary Ballance (30) lbw after he missed an attempted sweep.
Adil Rashid (2) provided Dolly with another scalp when he hit across the line and Ed Barnard grasped the chance at extra cover.
Rhodes had a second success when his namesake Will Rhodes (17) looked to turn the ball on the legside and was caught by skipper Daryl Mitchell at silly mid off from a leading edge.
Tim Bresnan and David Willey both hit a six but the innings was quickly wrapped up.
Willey (15) was caught and bowled by Mitchell and Liam Plunkett (19) dragged on a delivery from the returning Leach who then had Andrew Hodd (2) lbw.
Shantry ended the innings when Joe Clarke held onto a chance offered by Tim Bresnan (24) at short fine leg and Yorkshire were dismissed for 170 in 45.2 overs.
The Rapids opened with a new partnership as Leach went in with Tom Kohler-Cadmore – and the duo made an explosive start against Bresnan and Willey.
Kohler-Cadmore collected three boundaries in the first over from Willey and then Leach struck successive deliveries from Bresnan for 6,4,4,4,4.
There was no respite for the Yorkshire attack as the first 50 came up in 29 balls and the second half century in 38.
Leach struck the ball with enormous power but also with good timing and he brought up his 50 with a six over long on off Plunkett.
It was his first half century in List A cricket and came off 25 balls with seven fours and three sixes.
The Rapids stook on 94-0 at the end of the first 10 over powerplay and the stand was worth 107 in 13 overs when Plunkett trapped Kohler-Cadmore (42 off 42 balls) lbw.
Leach finally fell in the next over from Rashid for an explosive 63, caught by Ballance at long off.
Joe Clarke was also in a hurry, striking Rashid for a four and a six straight down the ground off successive deliveries.
He then produced one of the shots of the day with a back foot punch for four through the covers off Plunkett.
Clarke made 26 off 28 balls before he offered a return catch to Rashid with the Rapids 148-3 after 22 overs.
Mitchell (23 not out) and Alexei Kervezee (13 not out) then saw the Rapids over the finishing line in 25.3 overs.
