Essex Preview: Libby striving for complete performance as Essex await

Metro Bank One Day Cup: Essex v Worcestershire Rapids

Venue: Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Essex

Date: Sunday 10th August

Scheduled start time: 11am

Worcestershire Rapids travel to Essex on Sunday, hunting for their opening win in the Metro Bank One Day Cup after scraping a tie away at Nottinghamshire earlier this week.

Laying all the foundations to set-up a big opening day win, the Rapids failed to capitalise on a superb batting display, and travel to Essex in search of a complete 50-over performance.

A nerve-jangling finish saw Khurram Shahzad hold his nerve in the final over of the match, with Worcestershire Rapids surviving a huge upset as they dodged defeat by the barest of margins to tie with Notts Outlaws in their opening game of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Kashif Ali made an eye-catching 101 for the visitors after they were asked to bat first, as he led the recovery from 44-3 with skipper Jake Libby, in a fourth-wicket stand of 180, before Libby batted through the innings with absolute class, recording his fourth consecutive century in all formats, as he finished 112* in a re-adjusted total of 326-7.

With an above par score to defend, Ethan Brookes and Brett D’Oliveira combined to run through the hosts middle order, in a period where the pair took a combined 5-24, to help reduce the Outlaws to 145-7 with victory within touching distance.

A remarkable rearguard from the the Outlaws lower order saw them put on partnerships of 71 and 92 for the eighth and ninth wicket, with the hosts needing just four to win off the final over, during which Khurram Shahzad held his nerve and the Rapids missed a chance of a last ball run-out, settling for a tie.

Jake Libby is eager for his side to kick-on after a frustrating tie in their opening game, with Sunday’s clash against Essex presenting the perfect opportunity for Worcestershire to secure their first win in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Despite being in pole position, the visitors were unable to convert their dominance to win the game, as the spoils were shared in the Rapids’ opening group match.

Libby, scoring his fourth hundred on the bounce, led the charge for Worcestershire, with Kashif Ali also recording a superb century in a final total of 326, but even the rain adjusted score couldn’t prove quite enough as the game ended in a tie.

Speaking after the game on Thursday, the captain emphasised how crucial the impressive batting display was for the visitors and urged his side to take that forward into their trip to Essex.

“There’s loads of positives to take from today. I think we’ve batted really well as a group and we did bowl really well too.

“The games come thick and fast. You haven’t got time to feel sorry for yourself. And look, there’s still loads positives take.

“We’ll be disappointed, but we’ll get over that, and we know that the games come around fast.

With Libby taking the reigns for the 50-over format, club captain Brett D’Oliveira played an important role with the ball for the Rapids in their first group game, alongside many other 1st XI regulars who returned to action after being rested for the National Counties showcase match.

With Essex losing their first game to Hampshire, the Rapids will be eying Sunday’s fixture as the ideal opportunity to chalk up their first win of the campaign.

Players and supporters alike are hoping this year will see Worcestershire better last year’s quarter-final finish in the competition, with Libby explaining the senior players will look to take charge as the group stage progresses.

“Absolutely we have got to drive those fielding standards a little bit and make sure we improve on that and be a bit sharper in that respect.

“But we’ve done all the practice, we’re in August now and right into the meat of the season. I don’t want to be too downbeat about it. Ultimately, it was a really good game of cricket and a really good game to be involved in so it is just a shame we couldn’t take the win but we’re going to improve going forward.

“That was our first game, we were probably a little bit rusty in certain areas, and you know, that can be forgiven, but we’ve got to improve quickly because we know it’s going to be tough.”

Last result: Lost to Hampshire by five wickets

Table position: Eighth

One to watch: Luc Benkenstein

With only four players seconded to The Hundred – compared with six last year – Essex will in theory have a larger pool of players to pick from.

Essex have won just seven of 24 One-Day Cup fixtures since they reached the semi-finals in 2021, and after an underwhelming Blast campaign, the Sunday’s hosts will be hoping a change in formats can bring about a change in fortunes.

However, their plans were disrupted when Indian pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed belatedly pulled out of his all-formats contract and are actively searching for a replacement.

Though still only 20, Luc Benkenstein has been a mainstay of Essex’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup team since his 2021 debut.

He made his mark the following year with 6-42 against Glamorgan, now a Blast regular, the leggie will boost the spin options as well as adding big-hitting cameos down the order.