Worcestershire Rapids captain Jake Libby cut a frustrated figure after his side’s last-ball tie against Notts Outlaws on Thursday, as the centurion highlighted his”disappointment” at not getting over the line having been in control for large parts of the contest.
At the halfway stage of their Metro Bank One Day Cup opener, the Rapids looked well ahead, with their rain affected score adjusted to 326, having left the field 312-7 in the 48th over.
Anchored by centuries from Kashif Ali (101) and Jake Libby (112*), the Rapids had plenty to work with as they took to the field in the second innings – and looked to be in an almost unassailable position when the Outlaws were reduced to 145-7 midway through the reply.
An unbelievable rearguard from lower-order batters Rob Lord (83) and James Pocklington (54) saw the home side back into the contest, as the visitors lost momentum, falling away to a position whereby defeat suddenly seemed the only outcome, before Khurram Shahzad held his nerve to concede just three runs off the final over to avoid an unthinkable defeat and ensure Libby’s side walked away with two points.
“Really disappointed, to be honest. We’ve done enough in that game to win, but we were very poor in the field. So we’re gonna have to get there as we move forward as a group. But yeah, I think we batted really well and we got that above par score, we bowled well, Ethan particularly, bowled really well.
“I think ultimately at this point it does feel like a loss. We made some, some really basic areas in the field, and very costly ones, which I think ultimately that is probably the difference in the sides.
“Rob Lord batted really well for them and kind of got them back into it. We get off the mark with the points, but one that feels like it got away.
“When you’ve done enough to win the game of cricket, it feels disappointing not to.”
Registering a fourth hundred in succession, the One Day Cup captain has enjoyed a lavish few weeks at the crease, with his stand of 180 with Kashif Ali, for the fourth wicket proving a vital partnership in the well above-par Worcestershire total.
The skipper was full of praise for the other contributions amongst the batters however, on a day where the batting unit showed real quality, despite the result the Rapids not collecting all the points.
“I think we did have the above par score. It was a tough deck at times but he (Kashif) got value for shots, which made it quicker scoring and we sort of rebuilt.
“A little mention as well, for Henry Cullen, the way he came in and had his moment towards the end to get us up past 300 I thought he played really well.
“At the minute, I feel like I am playing well, moving really nicely and picking length really well. So yeah, it’s obviously nice to get four in a row, and hopefully I can continue that form.”
After a superb spell in the middle overs from Ethan Brookes (3-51) and Brett D’Oliveira (2-44), the Outlaws lost 5-24, seemingly scuppering any chances of the hosts clung onto, with Worcestershire showing a real cutting edge to tighten their grip on the game.
An eighth wicket partnership of 71, and a ninth of 92, saw the momentum swing dramatically back in favour of the Outlaws, with the previously unimaginable scenario of Worcestershire walking away empty handed, now becoming a very real possibility.
Matthew Waite took the vital wicket of Lord in the 44th over, before Khurram held his nerve to bowl three dot balls in the final over and ensure Worcestershire left with a share of the points.
Libby, said the Pakistan international once again showed his skills at the death, but the side should never have been in the position in the first place.
“We got ourselves into that position, so ultimately, we had to try and get ourselves out of it.
“I think the way Waitey, and particularly Khurram finished that off was fantastic, he nailed his yorkers and we actually fielded quite well in the last few overs.
“We shouldn’t have been in that position to have to do that. We wrestled back a couple of points over the new system. We’ll move on.”
