Worcestershire racked up a seismic 398-5 in their 50-overs, before bowling Herefordshire out for 253 as the Rapids made an ideal start to their 2025 One Day Cup preparations, easing to a 145-run win in the National Counties Showcase match.
Skipper Jake Libby scored a third hundred in three innings, in amongst a top-four who all scored half-centuries on a glorious day for batting at Eastnor CC.
Rehaan Edavalath (52), Isaac Mohammed (51) and Rob Jones (76) all cashed in on a true surface and a lightning outfield, before Dan Lategan and Henry Cullen blitzed the home side’s bowlers in the final stages.
Fateh Singh (4-42) led the way for the visitors, as the hosts batting line-up fell away towards the back end of the chase as the Rapids secured a comfortable win.
Worcestershire travelled to the picturesque ground of Eastnor on Tuesday, to face Herefordshire in their National Counties Showcase match, beginning preparations for the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
With the group stage commencing on Thursday in the shape of a trip to Nottingham, Jake Libby confirmed at the toss that his side would be batting first, with youngster Henry Hawes coming into the side in place of Jack Home, who had been called into the Birmingham Phoenix squad in preparation for the Hundred at short notice.
It was Rehaan Edavaltah and Isaac Mohammed who opened proceedings for the visitors, settling into their stride almost immediately as they started with gusto.
The pair blitzed the Herefordshire bowlers, with the small boundary square of the wicket found with ease by the promising Isaac, who shifted through the gears in a clinical nature.
The 17-year-old displayed his exciting range of shot selections in an eye-catching 55 ball 51, as he and partner Edavalath added 113 for the first wicket in just under 16 overs.
Edavalath, went about his business in similar fashion, impressing with his temperament at the top of the order and classy stroke play down the ground as he too made his way to a fine half-century, striking 10 boundaries in the process.
Isaac’s dismissal shortly after reaching fifty was met with a warm applause by the travelling Worcestershire supporters around the ground, with anticipation building ahead of what promises to be an exciting tournament for the Rapids if their top-order batters can continue their positive form.
Edavalath was caught for 52, as new man Rob Jones was joined by skipper, Jake Libby.
The pair began with ease, rotating the strike frequently and easing the ball around from the Herefordshire spinners who looked to make further inroads during the middle overs.
Libby began to express himself, extending his outstanding recent form in the Rothesay County Championship with some glorious drives down the ground, as he and Jones reached their fifty partnership with ease.
Jones, also looking to continue his impressive form, on the back of a hundred for the 2nd XI just last week, took a liking to the spinners in his excellent cameo of 76, adding 161 for the third wicket.
Jones was eventually out caught, but Libby made no mistake in chalking up his third hundred in three innings, making a cultured 106 from just 76 balls.
Youngster Dan Lategan made an instant impression with a blistering 42 from just 26 balls, launching four sixes into the surrounding vicinities as the Rapids headed past 350.
Henry Cullen caught the eye once again as he struck a quickfire 38 from 12 balls, at a strike rate of 316, including 30 runs from the penultimate over of the innings as his side flew to an imposing score of 398-5 at the completion of their innings.
Worcestershire wasted no time making inroads in the second innings, with Dan Lategan forcing a run-out in the fourth over, before Yadvinder Singh (1-13) reduced the hosts to 8-2 when Henry Cullen took a straightforward catch behind the stumps.
An impressive stand of 90 then saw Herefordshire edge towards 100, but Worcestershire’s Harry Darley and Isaac Mohammed kept control of the run rate, before another run-out from Rob Jones saw the Rapids take control.
Olly Walker starred with 84 for the hosts, but Fateh Singh showed his quality with a metronomic spell, that saw him remove the top-scorer and pick up three more on his way to excellent figures of 4-42 from his ten overs.
Tom Hinley chipped in with two wickets, as Jake Libby helped himself to a wicket also as Herefordshire’s chase fell away, losing their last three wickets for 14 runs, handing Worcestershire a dominant 145-run win.
The result sets the side up nicely as they turn attentions to their opening Metro Bank One Day Cup Group stage fixture against Notts Outlaws on Thursday, at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex.
