Rapids overpower Sharks to sail into knockout phases

Worcestershire 194 or 2 (Azhar 74, Kashif 53*) beat Sussex 190 (Ibrahim 51, Baker 3-35) by 8 wickets

Worcestershire Rapids are via to the knockout phases of the Metro Bank One Day Cup after finishing a complete eight-wicket success over Sussex Sharks at New Road.

The Rapids ensured a top-three spot with a sixth win in eight group video games after dismissing the Sharks in 45.5 overs after which knocking off their 191 goal in simply 26.4 overs to offer their internet run fee a large raise.

Danial Ibrahim’s List A greatest rating of 51 offered probably the most resistance however the Sharks complete was nicely beneath par after they selected to bat.

Worcestershire must wait till the conclusion of the group on Tuesday to find out the place they precisely end and whether or not they have a house or away tie to look ahead to.

Worcestershire made two modifications from the facet which triumphed towards Derbyshire on the Incora County Ground on Friday with Azhar and Logan van Beek changing Ed Pollock and Pat Brown. Sussex handed debuts to a pair of 19-year-olds in batter Zak Lion-Cachet and off spinner Bertie Foreman.

Sharks captain Tom Haines opted to bat first and his facet shortly bumped into hassle on the identical wicket as which Worcestershire had been lowered to 25-5 within the powerplay towards Warwickshire final Sunday.

Waite made the primary breakthrough when Harrison Ward was lbw to ball of full size which swung again into his pads. Pennington shared the brand new ball and he struck in successive overs. Tom Alsop performed down the unsuitable line to a ball which nipped away and was pouched at second slip by Baker.

The similar mixture then accounted for Haines after he drove at Pennington. Sussex reached 42-3 by the tip of the preliminary powerplay and James Coles and Liam Cachet led a partial restoration throughout a partnership of 42. But Worcestershire captain Jake Libby broke the stand with an excellent piece of fielding.

Coles performed Logan van Beek to mid-wicket and set off for a single however he was run out by Libby’s direct hit on the non-striker’s finish with just one stump to purpose at. Baker got here into the assault and shortly cemented Worcestershire’s place of energy.

Lion-Cachet (34) confirmed loads of promise on his debut earlier than making room to chop and being bowled by way of the underside edge. Charlie Tear then stepped again and chipped an easy catch to Rob Jones at further cowl.

Foreman (35) additionally created a beneficial impression on his debut in including 66 in 14.1 overs with Ibrahim. He finally grew to become Baker’s third sufferer when trying a change hit and being bowled behind his legs.

Ibrahim accomplished his half-century from 85 balls with 5 fours earlier than the innings was wrapped up. Van Beek had Ibrahim taken at deep sq. leg and the Netherlands worldwide struck once more when Sean Hunt might solely discover the fingers of mid off. A second run out of the innings polished off proceedings when Brad Currie did not beat Rob Jones direct hit from backward level trying a fast single.

Azhar and Roderick had been initially watchful in seeing off the brand new ball assault of Currie and Hunt however regularly began to speed up. A canopy drive for 4 by Roderick at Atkins expense introduced up the 50 within the thirteenth over.

The stand was damaged when Roderick holed out to lengthy on off Foreman however Azhar accomplished a 61 ball half-century with six fours to maintain the momentum. Kashif Ali, who had smashed 88 off 36 balls towards Derbyshire on Friday, continued in the identical big-hitting vein.

He struck three maximums off Coles on his strategy to a — fifty and, with Azhar stepping up a gear, 93 had been added in simply 8.4 overs. Azhar left the sphere to a standing ovation after he lastly holed out to lengthy on off Ibrahim, after which Kashif accomplished the victory along with his fifth six, off Atkins.