The first two of the four quarter-finals of the One Day Cup are approaching their respective conclusions. Both are still winnable for both teams. Leicestershire are 212-6 after 38 overs, needing 79 more to beat Hampshire. The rest of this post looks at the other match, which I am listening to on the radio.
WARWICKSHIRE V WORCESTERSHIRE
Worcestershire batted first, and made a decent fist of things. Kiwi Michael Rae claimed three wickets and left arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott two, while Jake Libby held the innings together, scoring a century which helped his side to reach 286-9 from their 50 overs.
At first it looked like Worcestershire would defend this target with ease. When Chris Benjamin was dismissed, caught behind off Ethan Brookes (younger brother of Henry who plays for Middlesex) it was 77-5, and the experienced Will Rhodes was being joined by Kai Smith, a 19 year old wicket keeper whose previous highest score in professional cricket was 44.
Rhodes has fought hard, but it has been the youngster Smith who has been the revelation. He has long since left that 44 behind and gone past the 50 mark. He has been scoring fast as well, better than a run a ball, which is highly impressive in 50 over cricket. He just reached three figures, off the 89th ball of his innings, with two sixes and 11 fours along the way. Warwickshire are 222-5, needing 65 off 7.1 overs to win. This is definitely on, though I still make Worcestershire marginal favourites to hold on, and the wicket of either of these would change things.
It is also notable that this match features two front line left arm wrist spinners (i.e. both selected on the basis of purveying this rarest form of bowling) – I have already mentioned Lintott, and Worcestershire have a youngster of the same type in Tom Hinley.
While I have been preparing this for publication Warwickshire have moved past 250. Smith has 110* off 93 balls, and Rhodes is also upping the tempo, now on to 73* (105), having been 37* (72) at one time.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
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