Sunday, July 30th, 2023

GIBBON AND DARLEY PICK UP THREE WICKETS APIECE IN ABANDONED GAME WITH SHROPSHIRE

Ben Gibbon and Academy debutant Harry Darley picked up three wickets each for Worcestershire Rapids before rain forced their National Counties Showcase Match with Shropshire at Shrewsbury to be abandoned.

Gibbon had a three wicket burst with the new ball as Shropshire were bowled out for 124 in 40.5 overs.

Darley enjoyed one breakthrough in his initial spell and added two more when he returned to the attack.

But the elements meant that Worcestershire were unable to begin their reply before play was abandoned in what was a warm-up fixture for their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign.

New signing Rob Jones, who has initially joined Worcestershire on loan from Lancashire for the One Day Cup, made his first senior appearance for the Rapids.

Rookie professional Olly Cox, Darley and Cameron Jones also all appeared at first team level for the first time although the game is not a List A fixture.

Captain Jake Libby, Josh Baker and Kashif Ali were included of the side which had defeated Gloucestershire yesterday by 110 runs in the LV=Insurance County Championship at Cheltenham.

Shropshire were immediately on the back foot after electing to bat against Gibbon and Darley.

Gibbon struck in his second over when George Hargrave (4) pulled a delivery to mid-wicket where Olly Cox held onto a diving catch.

Former Worcestershire batter Tom Fell (1) then lost his off stump to Darley.

Gibbon then clean bowled Andre Bradford (1) and Academy player Jack Home (0) to leave the home side on 23-4.

The left armer’s opening spell produced figures of 6-2-14-3 and Darley 5-0-15-1.

They were replaced by Josh Baker and Cameron Jones and the wickets continued to tumble.

Charlie Home (10) fell to a sharp return catch by Baker and Matty Simmonds (5) lost his off stump to a full length delivery from Jones.

Benjamin Lees (23) added 35 with Westbury but was then run out following a mix up after cutting Kashif Ali to Olly Cox at backward point.

Libby struck when Sam Ellis (4) fell to a sharp catch by Ed Pollock at slip from a well flighted delivery with the score 105-8.

Westbury continued to accumulate in impressive fashion and completed an excellent half century from 83 balls with his sixth boundary off Baker.

Baker ended with figures of 10-2-22-1.

Westbury’s knock ended on 56 when he nicked a wide delivery from Darley to Ben Cox.

Darley wrapped up the innings in the same over when Ben Parker (0) was lbw.

Gibbon had figures of 8-2-20-3 and Darley 6.5-0-17-3 with Cameron Jones, 6-1-18-1 and Libby 6-1-23-1 the other wicket-takers.