Worcestershire Rapids began preparations for their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with a resounding 249-run win over Shropshire at Worfield Cricket Club on Tuesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the visitors racked up 343-6, headlined by Dan Lategan (98), Rehaan Edavalath (88) and Henry Cullen (56) on a picturesque day.
In reply, the Rapids flexed their muscles, skittling their opponents for just 94 as the bowling unit enjoyed a successful early-season 50-over run-out.
There were two wickets apiece for Ben Gibbon, Harry Darley and Fateh Singh, before youngster Jeet Varaich swept up the tail with a clinical spell.
In an annual meeting with minor county opposition, Shropshire were Worcestershire’s first opponent of the 50-over summer, playing host to the Rapids at the stunning setting of Worfield Cricket Club.
The glorious backdrop, accentuated by the quirky and somewhat iconic tree located on the outfield, saw Worcestershire field a strong side for their opening warm-up match, with skipper Jake Libby sending Dan Lategan and Isaac Mohammed out to open the batting together.
Soaked in sunshine, Lategan raced out of the blocks, steering the visitors past fifty in the seventh over, despite losing partner Isaac, who was caught for 11.
A top-order batting clinic ensued for the next 22 overs, with Lategan and fellow Pathway product Rehaan Edavalath piling on a magnificent 156 runs for Worcestershire’s second wicket.
In that time, Lategan exhibited his fine form that was on display towards the back end of last year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, cruising past fifty and towards three figures whilst Edavalath followed suit.
The pair played faultlessly, as Lategan dispatched the Shropshire bowlers with his usual disdain, aptly supported by a fluent knock from his partner out in the middle, who was enjoying the benefits of a run of positive performances for the 2nd XI.
The partnership was broken in the 31st over, where two wickets in the space of three balls saw Lategan (98 from 87) caught just two runs shy of a sumptuous hundred, moments after Edavalath was caught and bowled for 88.
Skipper Jake Libby took guard with new batter Henry Cullen, as the pair made no fuss in getting to work, making a seamless 91-run stand as the keeper batter, fresh off a recent first-class debut, eased his way to a first white ball half-century of the summer, needing just 49 balls to record his eight boundaries in an eye-catching 56.
Libby (38) went at just over a run a ball before he was bowled with four overs remaining, as some crisp late ball striking from Shropshire-product Jack Home (28 off 20) helped the visitors compile an imposing 349-6 from their allocated fifty overs.
The hosts were up against it from the outset, and their challenging chase had the skids thrown under it inside 10 overs when the Shropshire top-order had been decimated at 31-4.
Ben Gibbon (2-18) castled Oliver Parton for one with just his second ball of the match with a full inswinger that clattered into middle stump, shortly before Harry Darley claimed the scalp of former Pear Thomas Fell for nine.
Darley (2-18) continued on his merry way with the next wicket of Connor Marshall courtesy of a juggling catch by Isaac at second slip, before left-armer Gibbon hit back when Cameron Jones edged behind to Cullen.
Opening bat Harry Chandler’s riposte was brought to an end when in-form spinner Fateh Singh was introduced to the attack, as some more sharp glove work from Cullen saw Shropshire lose their fifth wicket in the 13th over.
Singh (2-13), enjoying a fine run of form after grabbing the headlines against Glamorgan in Sunday’s Blast thriller, then combined with his keeper once again to remove Anis Raza, having just watched teammate Jack Home (1-15) claim his first scalp of the contest.
Keeping their foot on the throat, the Rapids showed a cutting edge, with Academy quick Jeet Varaich wasting no time in finishing proceedings.
Rattling through the tail, the left-arm seamer returned superb figures of 3-13 in a textbook exhibition of how to bowl at tailenders, mopping up what was left of Shropshire’s defence and bundling the hosts out for 94.
The emphatic win sets the Rapids up for their next warm-up match, where preparations continue on 21st July at Eastnor CC, as they face Herefordshire.
Worcestershire Squad v Shropshire:
Dan Lategan
Isaac Mohammed
Rehaan Edavalath
Jake Libby (Captain)
Henry Cullen (WK)
Jack Home
Seth Essenhigh
Ben Gibbon
Harry Darley
Fateh Singh
Toby Cox
Jeet Varaich
