Thursday, September 15th, 2022

LIBBY PRIDE AT DOUBLE HUNDRED AND SAYS FIRST SESSION CRUCIAL TO VICTORY CHANCES

 

Worcestershire opener Jake Libby revealed his pride at achieving the first double hundred of his career, and believes the first hour on day four will be crucial in the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Sussex at Hove.

Libby went from his overnight 142 to 215 in just 52 balls as Worcestershire scored 149 from 20 overs on a rain-hit day before declaring on 438-5 – a lead of 218.

Joe Leach then removed Sussex captain Tom Haines before the close, and Sussex will resume on 39-1 with the ball only 10 overs old.

Libby said: “It’s always nice to tick off the double hundred. You are always asked ‘have you got a double’ and I can say ‘yes I have now’

“Really proud and pleased to have been able to do that.

“It was nice to get a few balls away and push on, a slight upping in the tempo, and it worked out really well.”

Libby admits the final session went to plan after play finally got underway at 4pm.

He said: “When we rocked up at the ground, we knew it was going to be a bit of a wet day but we hung in there and the last session couldn’t really have gone any better for us.

“We wanted about 10 overs at them and we managed to kick on a bit faster and Brett (D’Oliveira) played a great knock.

“Getting the late wicket of Tom Haines was an absolute bonus for us and it has put us in a great position to push on for the win.

The key is that first session and particularly that first hour. Hopefully it (the pitch) will offer us a bit. Joe (Leach) got a couple of deliveries to move off the straight.

“We are going to keep coming all of the final day.”