Worcestershire 2nd XI began their 2025, T20 campaign with a thrilling six-run victory over Somerset 2nd XI at Taunton Deane to get themselves moving in the Central Group.
After the losing the toss and being asked to bat first, run-scoring was going to prove challenging under grey skies and against a strong bowling attack.
Ed Pollock (6) and Ismail Mohammed (2) failed in their attempts to secure a fast-start, before 22-year-old Henry Cullen showed his potential with a blistering 38 off 22 deliveries that got his side moving in the right direction.
His powerful display that included five fours and a six, saw him take take the total to 79-4 when he was removed by Lewis Goldsworthy.
With no batter really getting going, Tom Hinley had the next best score for Worcestershire with an 18-ball-27, ably supported by Fateh Singh (18) and Adam Finch (17), as their contributions saw Worcestershire rally to 151-9 from their 20 overs.
With a seemingly below-par target to defend, Finch wasted no time in striking the first blow with the ball in hand, as he removed Andy Umeed, in the second over of the hosts’ reply.
Will Smeed (40) and Josh Thomas (31) showed their quality, and Somerset looked favourites they reached 113-3 entering the 14th over, requiring just under 40 runs from the remaining six-overs.
The visitors were not done however, and they turned the screw.
Finch was one of four bowlers in the Worcestershire bowling ranks to take two wickets across the innings, with Ben Gibbon, Fateh Singh and Harry Darley all chipping in.
It was youngster Darley, however, who produced the goods when it mattered most, with his bowling accounting for the final two wickets of Roberts (5) and Langridge (0), as the away-side completed a remarkable turnaround to win by six-runs.
