Matthew Waite’s conversion into an opening batter for Worcestershire Rapids in Vitality Blast cricket is of no surprise to Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira.
Waite has shown his capabilities with the bat in red ball cricket and Head Coach, Alan Richardson, believes he can bat in the top six in the Vitality County Championship.
Now Waite has been promoted alongside D’Oliveira in T20 cricket and he made an accomplished 29 during an opening stand of 55 to lay a platform for the win over Lancashire Lightning at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
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D’Oliveira believes there are similar performances to come from Waite as the Rapids prepare for Thursday’s encounter with Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.
He said: “Matthew hasn’t done a lot of opening. He’s done a little in second team cricket. One thing I can vouch for is I will always back him to do that role.
“I’ve watched him strike the ball in the nets and he strikes it as clean as anyone else.
“He just needs opportunities and I’m sure over this campaign he will put in some performances like he did on Friday.
“You’ve seen Matthew bat a lot and that instinct he shows in four day cricket, he really takes the attack.
“It sounds silly but he hits really good deliveries for four and six and that takes true talent. He is a real clean striker of the ball and we back him all the way to clear the ropes. “
D’Oliveira was delighted with the performance against Lancashire and has challenged everyone in the squad to win two games in the Blast.
He said: “It has been a difficult few weeks and the boys have handled themselves tremendously well.
“Everyone has to play a role and you hope through the competition that two or three guys will stand up at different times and you saw that last Friday.
“As we go through this 14 game period, we will be asking those guys to stand up as much as they can.
“If everyone tries to win us two games a cricket we will be in a strong position come the end of the tournament.”
Worcestershire will return to action after a rare mini break before facing the Outlaws.D’Oliveira said:
“The schedule is hectic. Everyone knows that. It is a strong topic at the moment. We have to manage that as best we can, recover well, sleep well.”
Worcestershire Rapids
2 Jake Libby
3 Josh Cobb
6 Matthew Waite
7 Ed Pollock
9 Gareth Roderick (w)
12 Tom Taylor
15 Brett D’Oliveira (w)
20 Nathan Smith
21 Ben Gibbon
54 Adam Hose
61 Adam Finch
77 Ethan Brookes
86 Hayden Walsh
88 Rob Jones
