Match Details VS Herefordshire
National Counties Showcase Match: Herefordshire v Worcestershire Rapids
Venue: Eastnor Cricket Club
Date: 5th August 2025
Scheduled start time: 11am
For the first time this summer, Worcestershire Rapids turn their attentions to 50-over cricket, where they begin their campaign with a Minor County warm-up clash against Herefordshire.
Making their way to the quarter-final stages during last year’s competition, a vibrant blend of youth and experience will take to the field against Herefordshire, hoping to start as they mean to go on ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Last Time Out
Worcestershire produced a bold and spirited run chase on the final day at Visit Worcestershire New Road, before the Rothesay County Championship Division One fixture against Hampshire ended in a gripping draw.
Chasing a daunting target of 358 in just 53 overs after Hampshire’s enterprising post-lunch declaration on 313/7, the home side carried hope of completing one of the Championship’s most dramatic final-day turnarounds.
In a match that ebbed and flowed throughout, it was Jake Libby’s second magnificent century of the game, a perfectly judged 106 off 122 balls, that fuelled Worcestershire’s pursuit.
With solid support from Kashif Ali (65 from 79) and a string of aggressive cameos down the order, the chase was very much alive deep into the final hour. But with wickets falling, the hosts closed on 303/8, 55 runs shy of their target
Inside The Camp
Worcestershire Head Coach Alan Richardson says his side are “raring to go” as the Rapids commence their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with a warm-up fixture against Herefordshire, at Eastnor CC.
With the Rothesay County Championship rounds 10 and 11 sandwiched between two blocks of Vitality T20 Blast matches across June and July, Richardson’s side has a refreshed and exuberant look about it at as they prepare for tomorrow’s matchup.
With a host of frontline names rested for the start of the competition, Richardson says his young side are well-placed to kick things off in their showcase game.
“It is an ideal opportunity for some of these younger lads to take centre stage and show what they can do, with bit of experience in the group, we have full faith that those lads will express themselves.
“Plenty of the lads have been involved in 2nd XI cricket recently, or on the fringes of the senior set up, so they are raring to go.
Skippering the side for a second year in succession, Jake Libby will be hoping to continue his fine recent form that saw him score two sensational centuries in the match, as his side almost pulled off an enthralling win against Hampshire last week.
With pedigree of leading the side at the top level in both red and white ball competitions, Richardson is assured Libby the perfect candidate to take the side forward and help blood some of the younger talent throughout the campaign.
“Jake has been enjoying himself with the bat – I think those recent scores speak for themselves!
“He has a great cricketing brain, is respected by all of the lads and is the ideal person to help bring through the younger lads in the squad and hopefully push us forward to some silverware, which is ultimately what we want to achieve.
“Tuesday is a perfect place for this group to start the 50-over season, and with the different challenges it brings, lets hope we can start as we mean to go on and adapt quickly.”
Squad vs Herefordshire
