Alan Richardson said his side are still right in the hunt for a T20 quarter-final place, despite Friday’s 41-run defeat to Yorkshire.
Set an over-par 234 to win, the Rapids showed promising signs up until the 13th over of the chase, when top-scorer Brett D’Oliveira was dismissed for a fabulous 53, at which the visitors lost wickets in clusters and hopes of a vital away win fell away.
Richardson, said credit had to go to the host’s bowling attack for applying sustained pressure and highlighted their mammoth 134-run third wicket stand as a key factor in the outcome of the contest.
“Here at Yorkshire, certainly this year, scores have been generally over 200 as they’ve been really good wickets with fast scoring outfields.
“So it was not too surprising with how it went, unfortunately, we got on the wrong end of it. Yorkshire, fair play to them, a couple of outstanding individual performances from Luxton and Wharton played a match winning partnership there.
“I think when we look at it, 234, sounds like a lot. I think 210 would have been very achievable for us, or given us a real chance, but that partnership really killed us. We barely bowled any dot balls. They didn’t give us the capacity to bowl any dot balls in that middle period or create any pressure and then obviously, Will O’Rourke, I thought, with the ball was outstanding.
“I think they probably executed some skills a little bit better, if I’m honest. I think Will O’Rourke looked like he took a lot of pace off the ball, but still held his length really well.”
Aside from D’Oliveira’s highest score on the night, the Rapids had Ethan Brookes (38) and Ben Dwarshuis (42*) to thank for giving them a fighting chance in a steep run-chase.
Brookes, exemplified his batting capabilities once again in a partnership worth 83 with his Captain, before Dwarshuis blitzed 42 off just 17 deliveries towards the back end of the innings, but ultimately his efforts were in vein.
Worcestershire’s Head Coach, said there were plenty of positives to take despite the result going against his side.
“Good efforts from Ethan Brookes and Brett D’Oliveira, as well as Ben Dwarshuis.
“I think, you know, we were there or thereabouts in terms of run-rate it for the majority of it, probably for the first 14 or 15 overs, but obviously we lost those wickets up front, and we didn’t quite create that platform, or have that really big partnership.
“But I thought Ethan and Brett played very well, they played some real strong shots, obviously a very good wicket, like I said, a fast outfield, and I think if we had held our nerve a little bit more we had a real shot at it.
“Despite that, it was pleasing for those guys that played well in the first game back after a couple of weeks out, disappointing result but some nice little work ons for us.”
Mathematically, qualification for the knock-out stages is still achievable, but in realistic terms, the Rapids must win four of their remaining five group games to stand a chance of progressing further in the competition.
Richardson however, says the permutations should not affect the side’s attitude to their remaining fixtures.
“If we win every game, we’ll qualify. It’s a massive ask, but the game is about momentum.
“No matter where we are in the league and what position we’re at, we are representing the county and we should have extreme pride in that.
“That is in the players own performances, the support staff’s performances, but we’re also representing the club. It will be a challenge for us, but you know, it’s our job to hit that head on.”
