Worcestershire Rapids Head Coach Alan Richardson believes Adam Hose’s game management and temperament are as crucial as his star quality with the bat during the march to the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.
Hose finished as the Rapids leading run-scorer in the North Group with 395 runs in his first season at New Road.
His consistent run of scores and a strike rate approaching 150 have been a key factor as part of an all-round team effort in finishing in the top four to set up Friday evening’s meeting with Hampshire Hawks at the Ageas Bowl.
But Hose has also been the batter often in the middle at the business end of games to see the Rapids over the finishing line.
In the last two weeks alone he was there at the end in the wins over Lancashire and Nottinghamshire and the tied game with Durham while his late acceleration left Derbyshire facing a formidable target in the group decider last weekend.
Richardson said: “It has been a real team effort from the boys which has been absolutely crucial in getting us over the line.
“I’m waiting for someone to have a day out for us and hopefully that will be in the quarter-final!
“It has been valuable contributions throughout the team and the campaign and Adam has been a huge part of that.
“What is really shining through is not just his skill level, which is without doubt absolutely top drawer, real high class, but also the temperament he shows and the game management he possesses.
“Having him in that middle order, being able to score as quickly as he can but also to manage a game has been fantastic.
“His experiences, not just in the Vitality Blast but also in franchise cricket, have been absolutely invaluable for us.”
