Metro Bank One Day Cup 2024 – Live Cricket Streaming, Live Scores, Match Reports and Reactions – All Matches – 11th August

Here are the Metro Bank One Day Cup 2024 – Live Cricket Streaming, Live Scores, Match Reports and Reactions for every match on 11th August.

Sunday 11 August

Kent Spitfires v Durham, Group A, Spitfire Ground, Canterbury

Durham pulled off a sensational win in the Metro Bank Cup on Sunday, beating the Kent Spitfires by seven runs in a thriller at Canterbury

Kent seemed to be cruising to victory after a regal 104 from Harry Finch, but the Spitfires collapsed from 223 for two and finished on 300 for nine, with George Drissell taking four for 38. Finch’s 91-ball knock included a six and 13 four and he put on 183 for the third wicket with Jack Leaning, who made 81, but Kent then lost six wickets for 71, leaving Colin Ackermann to successfully defend 17 off the final over.

Earlier Ben McKinney hit a superb century as Durham were all out for 307 from exactly 50 overs. McKinney’s 115 came from 116 balls and included three sixes and 13 fours. Bas de Leede was the next highest scorer with 47. Jaydn Denly had the best figures of Kent’s nine bowlers with three for 15 and Marcus O’Riordan took three for 36. The result keeps Durham in contention for the knock-out stages, but Kent have been eliminated.

Durham won the toss and chose to bowl on a sub-tropical day at The Spitfire Ground, watched by a crowd of 2,487.

Beyers Swanepoel bowled Michael Jones middle stump for 12 but McKinney and Alex Lees responded with a stand of 87 that ended when the latter was lbw to Charlie Stobo for 35.

Matt Parkinson removed Ackermann with his second ball, caught by Jack Leaning for seven but McKinney played with elegance and brutality, offering only the occasional half-chance. He nudged Marcus O’Riordan through midwicket to reach three figures then dumped Parkinson for a six that landed in the Old Dover Road gardens.

He finally went when he was caught by Stobo trying to reverse sweep O’Riordan, who then took two wickets in four balls in the 40th over. He trapped Scott Borthwick lbw for 35 before getting Neil Wagner caught by Joey Evison for one at mid-off.

De Leede and Haydon Mustard quickly wrestled back control. Mustard was on eight when he skied O’Riordan, but a dazzled Grant Stewart couldn’t pick out a ball that landed a foot in front of him and Parkinson’s next over, the 45th, went for 19.

Mustard had made 35 when he was lbw to Jaydn Denly and Stewart then put down a caught and bowled chance when De Leede was on 45, before getting him caught on the boundary by Joey Evison.

Denly then bowled George Drissell for six and had Johnny Bushnell caught by Swanepoel off the final ball of the innings.

Wagner struck early to get O’Riordan caught behind for 11 and although Evison then hit Wagner for three successive fours, he went for 28, caught behind off de Leede, before Finch and Leaning responded with what looked like a match-turning partnership.

Finch reached his hundred by hitting Borthwick back over his head for his first six but he fell four short of his best List A score when he cut Wagner to Ackermann.

When Drissell bowled Leaning and then had Grant Stewart lbw for three nerves began to set in and Swanepoel was lbw to Ackermann.

Denly skied Ackermann next ball and although Jones dropped a simple catch, Denly was lbw to Ackermann’s next delivery.

Parkinson drove Drissell to Jones and the run rate soared, leaving Kent needing 17 from Ackermann’s final over. The first was a dot, Stobo scrambled two off the second and was run out by Bushnell off the third, chasing a second. When Garrett could only mange two off the next two balls, Kent’s fate was sealed.

“It feels good, I would have liked to do it a couple of weeks ago at Worcester but to do it on a lovely ground like this was special. It was a tough start but it was a lovely pitch so it was good to get it done.

“Facing what was nearly a maiden when I was 99 didn’t help, but I think once I’d passed 60, you can sort of coast in a 50-over game and go at five or six an over. I wasn’t nervous until I got to 99! Honestly I was praying on a bad ball, I’m not going to lie but it was good to get there. It was an easy paced wicket which was good and it bounced quite a lot which suits me. We were really pleased with the powerplay and obviously it spun a little bit early but it wasn’t too bad. We were really pleased with the wicket and pleased with the score in the end.

“Two of my biggest partnerships were with Lees and Borthwick and they’re two very experienced players and both left-handed, so it helps to have players who have done it for 10 years plus experience around you. They just show you the way and you do it.

“We’re relieved (to win) from where we were because obviously it was a must win game and George Drissell got us right back in it, so to do it the way we did it makes it a whole lot better.”

 

Kent’s Harry Finch said: “We’ve had a bit of a chat in there and I don’t know what we were after 40 overs but I think you’d take that every time, so yeah, we’re pretty disappointed.

“You could look at it and say could me and Jack have taken it a little bit longer but I think we spoke about this comp, having a platform. Our lower order have been outstanding in this outstanding in this competition, but yeah, it was very disappointing.

“With the change of position for me today I’m definitely someone who prefers batting in the top four so I was jumping at the chance to bat a bit higher up. I managed to take that chance but it’s pretty disappointing because I felt like we had the game won there basically. I think it got down to fives at one point. I think credit to them, they adapted quite well and started to bowl spin and it wasn’t easy to play against spin, but we’ll learn and actually we’ve played some pretty good cricket in this comp.

“I’m obviously happy personally but I’m pretty annoyed with those ten overs if I’m perfectly honest. We lost the game there and I think that’s where we need to get better as a group. When you’re on top like that you can’t let them back in and I know it was difficult out there but we collectively have got to be better and we’ve had to be better in this whole comp. 

"We’ve not batted well enough, we have to be honest about that and I think at times we’ve not set the game up well enough and have batted brilliantly at the back end and then today we had the game set up and have not done well enough at the end. Hopefully we’ll get a perfect performance on Wednesday.

“I think you saw today how aggressive I can be and proactive, I think I struck it above 100 the whole innings so I was pleased with my thinking today.

(On getting to 100 with a six)

“To be honest I think I bat at my best when I’m not really thinking about my score. They had mid-on up, they know I’m better at sweeping and stuff so they were always going to have that man up and I think I went two in a row, four and six. It was quite cool doing that!”

Leicestershire Foxes v Glamorgan, Group B, Uptonsteel County Ground

Australian international Peter Handscomb rescued Leicestershire from 59 for five with a superb 103 to set up a winning score against previously unbeaten Group B leaders Glamorgan and keep the defending champions in contention for the knock-out stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Chasing 272 after seamer Timm van der Gugten had taken five for 49, Glamorgan were all out for 262, with Foxes left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis their star man with the ball, taking four for 54 to go with the 47 he made with the bat in a vital 103-run partnership with Handscomb for Leicestershire’s seventh wicket, although ex-Glamorgan man Roman Walker ran him close, taking the last three wickets for figures of three for 40 to seal a nine-run victory.

Veteran Colin Ingram top scored for the Welsh side with 68. His dismissal to Trevaskis with 75 still needed from 55 balls looked to have swung the balance heavily towards the home side, but a List A career-best 61 from Dan Douthwaite took the contest into the penultimate over.

The result puts Lewis Hill’s side on 10 points, one behind Glamorgan and Warwickshire - who also surrendered their unbeaten record against Yorkshire - and two ahead of Gloucestershire and Yorkshire.

Both Glamorgan, who take on Yorkshire in Cardiff in the final round of group matches on Wednesday, and Warwickshire, who face eliminated Nottinghamshire at Rugby School, are already sure of at least a quarter-final place.

Leicestershire, who travel to Bristol to meet Gloucestershire, have the potential to finish in any of the top three places - or be knocked out on net run-rate.

The one shadow over their celebrations after this victory was an injury to Handscomb suffered while batting, after which he did not field in Glamorgan’s innings and may make him a doubt for Bristol.

Needing to score at 5.44 per over, Glamorgan - missing top scorer Eddie Byrom through injury - lost both openers in first nine overs to all-rounder Ian Holland, Tom Bevan helping a leg-side delivery into the hands of short fine leg before Will Smale’s attempt to clear the leg-side fence only picked out the man at deep square. They were 43 for two from 10.

Leicestershire’s attack was depleted by injuries and Hundred call-ups, yet by the halfway stage of their innings at 108 for four, they seemed not so much to be biding their time as making hard going of what was required.

They had lost Sam Northeast to a return catch tamely chipped back to Trevaskis for 31, the same score at which Kiran Carlson, showing signs of frustration, had holed out to deep midwicket off Tom Scriven. The rate needed was up to 6.56.

Billy Root was caught behind square on the reverse sweep off Trevaskis, Asa Tribe holing out to deep midwicket, a third wicket for the left-arm spinner.

Ingram, who hit two sixes and seven fours, reached his fifty from 48 balls and needed to be there at the end if Glamorgan were to win, so little wonder there were loud celebrations among the home players when Trevaskis had him leg before sweeping.

Douthwaite’s four fours and four sixes kept Glamorgan in the hunt but after Walker bowled Van der Gugten and had Andy Gorvin caught at backward point in the space of four deliveries, he was the hero again as Sol Budinger patiently waited for the ball to come down at deep midwicket and Douthwaite’s brave effort came to an end.

Glamorgan had won the toss and while a frenetic opening powerplay saw them concede 59 runs after opting to bowl first on use on  a green-tinged pitch but take four wickets, with a fifth quickly following in the 11th over.  Four of them came from Van der Gugten.

The pacy Netherlands international dismissed Ian Holland leg before in his first over.

Sent back by the lively Sol Budinger, skipper Hill was run out by Asa Tribe’s direct hit from extra cover before the former edged to first slip, having hit six fours in a 23-ball 28.  

The departure of the Foxes’ leading run-scorer was quickly followed by that of their undoubted star turn, the Indian Test batter Ajinkya Rahane, who was leg before offering no shot, and Louis Kimber, who returned from The Hundred to be bowled through the gate for a four-ball duck.

New man Ben Cox hit six boundaries in his 34 but hooked Douthwaite to deep backward square, leaving the Foxes 105 for six.

The combination of Andy Gorvin and the spin of Carlson and Bevan proved restrictive but Handscomb and Trevaskis stayed patient, adding 103 in 23 overs before the latter was bowled by the returning Van der Gugten.

Handscomb pulled Gorvin for his only six and dispatched Van der Gugten for his 10th four before completing his second hundred of this year’s competition, never hurried yet taking only 91 balls. He and Scriven added 47 in five overs before the Australian - limping towards the end of his innings - succumbed to a catch at backward point.

Leicestershire’s Liam Trevaskis, who took four for 54 and made 47 with the bat, said:

“The way Dan Douthwaite was striking the ball there towards the end it looks as if he was going to take the game away from us and it was closer than we probably would have wanted.

“Getting Colin Ingram out was an important moment but you never know what will happen in this game, as Douthwaite showed.

“Peter Handscomb was superb for us with the bat. To play the way he did was awesome, considering the position we were in and the pressure that was on us after being 59 for five, it was very impressive, but then he is a model professional, he does it day in, day out.

“We bat a long  way down and the contribution from Tom Scriven and Roman Walker at the end probably made the difference in getting us over the line.”

Glamorgan’s Timm van der Gugten said:

“It was quite a topsy-turvy game. We felt we were on top in the first 20 overs, having them five or six down. But then Pete (Handscomb) and Trevaskis batted really well in that partnership and it probably got away from us a little bit.

“Coming off, though, I think we felt that 270 was about par, maybe a little bit below, but then they bowled really well, didn’t give us much width, bowled straight, set straight fields and made it difficult for us to pierce the infield.

“We got it down to the end but weren’t quite able to steal it away from them. Dan Douthwaite is striking the ball so well at the moment, he is very difficult to bowl to, but they held their nerve and we couldn’t quite get over the line.

“We’re still top of the group and it is in our hands. We have the ability to win ourselves a home semi-final if we can finish top of the group and that gives us a good feeling going into that last game.”

Middlesex v Somerset, Group A, Lord's, London

Somerset 2pts beat Middlesex by 8 wickets

Riley Meredith haunted Middlesex for the second time this season at Lord’s as Somerset crushed the hosts by 8 wickets to book their place in the knockout stages.

The Tasmanian quick, whose 4-12 routed the Seaxes in the Vitality Blast back in June, was chief tormentor again with 4-27 – only the second time he’d taken four or more wickets in List-A cricket - as the hosts were bundled out for 135 with 63 balls unused.

Meredith received great support from new-ball partner Josh Davey(1-20) the pair leaving Middlesex in disarray at 39-4 by the end of the powerplay. England spinner Jack Leach got two wickets later down the card with only Martin Andersson 34 and Luke Hollman, left stranded on 38 not out, providing prolonged resistance.

James Rew 53 not out, complete with two sixes and Lewis Goldsworthy 41 not out shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 81 to make light work of the chase as Somerset romped home with 23 overs to spare, eliminating Middlesex in the process.

Middlesex had won three  of their last four games but were soon in trouble after being put in.

Meredith took only four balls to begin the rout, pinning youngster Nathan Fernandes in front for a single.

Eyes of the home fans were on Joe Cracknell, who had improved his career-best in both the last two games, but the Durham University graduate was run out after setting off for a suicidal single to short mid-on, and colliding with bowler Davey prior to George Thomas’ direct hit.

That wound was self-inflicted, but Meredith was soon centre-stage once more, cutting short Mark Stoneman’s four-boundary cameo with a snorter of a ball which zipped between bat and pad and plucked out the off stump.

Davey completed the powerplay carnage by castling Sam Robson off the inside edge and even when the new-ball pair vacated the bowling crease there was no let-up, Ben Green causing Jack Davies to feather one through to Rew.

Middlesex were in danger of not beating the 78 they’d been hustled out for by the ‘Cidermen’ two months previously and needed some crisp driving from Andersson to surpass that figure, he and Hollman sharing a sixth-wicket stand of 46.

Nemesis Meredith though snuffed out lingering hopes of revival when he switched to the Pavilion End to trap Anderson leg before with the first ball off his second spell immediately after the drinks break.

Thereafter it was pretty much Hollman against the rest, the leg-spinner clubbing one from Leach into the Mound Stand for the only six of the innings as others fell around him, Sean Dickson’s stunning catch to remove Henry Brookes the highlight of a fine fielding display from the visitors.

Thomas was fortunate not to be adjudged runout on seven as Somerset began the chase, though he didn’t make the most of the reprieve when brilliantly stumped by Davies off Ethan Bamber four runs later. Davies would also stump Somerset’s leading scorer in the competition, Andrew Umeed for 22.

Goldsworthy though remained to anchor his side inexorably towards the target in company with Rew, who cut loose late on to raise his fifty from 40 balls in the grand manner with a towering six off Hollman.

Somerset skipper Sean Dickson said: "Hopefully this is enough to get us through to the semi-final as we lose a couple of players to the Lions squad this week. All credit to the lads who have played really well over this campaign and put in another good performance today.

"Riley (Meredith) is a great player and a good overseas for us. He runs in and puts the ball in the right areas and gets his rewards.

There is nothing to it. He just does all the right things and does them well - long may it continue.

"(Davey) has an immense amount of experience and is really good with the new ball up front, especially against left-handers. Again, he put the ball in the right areas and the pitch did the rest for him. It is always handy to have someone with that experience up top to hit thr stumps over and over again.

"I don't think my catch (to get rid of Henry Brookes) was that good. I put a bit of Mayo on it. I try and set the standard as much as I can. It is easy choosing bowlers, but if you don't actually lead from the front with what you want the players to do, then what kind of leader are you. I try my best in the field, I'm getting a bit older and the body is hurting a bit more but I'll do what I can to take that catch or stop that extra run. 

"Lewis and James are very good players. Golders is always going to be the rock in our order as he showed again today. He pulls through on these type of occasions and that shows the potential moving forward in his career. 

"James Rew is obviously a special talent and he's shown that over the last couple of seasons really. He's got so much more in the tank which is so exciting for him. He showed at the end when he wants to put his foot down he can do it and do it well. He has got a big game this week with the Lions and I've no doubts he'll go and show the same form at the top level."

 

Middlesex head coach Richard Johnson said: "It was a tough day. We came into the game in good form having played really nicely the last three games. 

"We were full of confidence but found it pretty tough first up where the ball moved a little bit. We knew it was a used wicket so we knew it wasn't going to be easy and free flowing so we understood that before the game. It was a tough surface to get in on and we lost a few early ones and it got tougher as the innings went on. We were facing a very good bowling attack with a couple of international bowlers.

"I'm disappointed we didn't adapt to get what was probably a par score of around 180 with a partnership here and there and when they are only chasing 135, if they can see off the new ball which they did pretty well, you struggle. You need to be taking wickets early.

So it's disappointing as we came in thinking it was a game we could win and we wanted to push through to the last game and try and qualify." 

Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Lancashire, Group A,  County Ground, Northampton

Lancashire 240 for nine (50 overs)

Northamptonshire Steelbacks 236 for eight (50 overs)

Lancashire won by four runs and take two points

Lancashire won the toss and decided to bat

George Balderson hit a spirited 53 off 67 balls to set up a consolation first win for Lancashire in this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup and break a six-game losing streak.

Balderson struck five fours and a six during a crucial partnership of 65 with Josh Boyden (44 not out off 35 balls) after Lancashire had slumped to 152 for seven against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. The pair’s fightback allowed Lancashire to post 240 for nine before holding off the Steelbacks’ challenge in a thrilling, tense run chase, emerging victorious by just four runs.

Earlier in this bottom of the table clash, Ben Sanderson made the initial breakthrough, removing two Lancashire top-order batters in five deliveries, while Saif Zaib claimed three for 44 as wickets continued to fall before Balderson and Boyden fought back.

In the run chase, Justin Broad hit a career-best 63, his first List A half-century and shared a fifth wicket stand of 77 off 81 balls with skipper Lewis McManus. Boyden (2-49) starred with the ball too, breaking the partnership by removing McManus and despite a gutsy 27 from Gus Miller, the hosts fell just short.

Sanderson started by clean bowling Kesh Fonseka and knocking over Josh Bohannon’s stumps when the Lancashire skipper advanced down the pitch.

George Bell (35) hit seven boundaries before he reverse swept Zaib and top-edged a looping catch to Bartlett at backward point. Rocky Flintoff (23) pulled a Sanderson short ball for four and twice dispatched Zaib over mid on before he was adjudged lbw attempting to reverse sweep. The left-armer picked up a third scalp when McManus took a sharp catch as Venkatesh Iyer edged behind, leaving Lancashire 98 for five off 23.1 overs.

Australian Chris Green (33) started positively, cracking Raphy Weatherall past a diving cover and pulling Freddie Heldreich dismissively for six. His downfall came through another attacking shot though when he pulled Gus Miller hard, James Sales taking a brilliant, sliding boundary catch. Lancashire were then seven down when Harry Singh (8) attempted to drive Broad and edged a catch behind.

From then on, the momentum shifted towards the visitors. Balderson, dropped in the deep off Heldreich early on, was soon into his stride, crunching Miller through midwicket and stroking Heldreich fluently down the ground. He tucked into Sales’ bowling too, driving consecutive deliveries through the covers.

Weatherall bowled an impressive pacy spell but was deeply unlucky. Balderson chipped consecutive deliveries just wide of the young quick’s grasp while other opportunities dropped short of fielders. Boyden hooked Weatherall for six, but in more agony for the bowler, Zaib put down a chance on the boundary before Balderson pulled him for six to reach his half-century.

Weatherall finally gained an overdue, well-deserved reward when Balderson was caught behind, attempting another pull shot.

Charlie Barnard was caught behind off Heldreich but Boyden clinically struck Sanderson straight for his second six to close the innings.

Former England Under 19 all-rounder Boyden then started equally strongly with the ball, hitting the top of Sales’ off-stump.

But dangerman Prithvi Shaw (23) looked threatening as he smashed two boundaries. He rode his luck too, miscuing a shot off Boyden which flew over fine leg for six and when he chanced his arm against Barnard, the ball flew off the leading edge to sub fielder Will Williams who took an excellent catch running in from long-off.

Bartlett (35), meanwhile, looked in excellent touch, his placement exemplary. He steered Boyden down to third for four, and later picked up three consecutive onside boundaries off Balderson, the first two threaded perfectly between the fielders before a glorious drive through extra cover.

With Broad sweeping Barnard for four and driving Venkatesh through midwicket, Northamptonshire were building nicely, 32 coming in 64 balls before Lancashire made a double breakthrough, leaving the Steelbacks 89 for four inside 23 overs. Both wickets came both courtesy of stumpings from Bell, the first after Morley beat Bartlett’s bat, the second when Zaib danced down the wicket to Green.

McManus played with intent from the get-go, stroking two early boundaries before smashing both Green and Morley over midwicket for six.

Broad went on to bring up his half-century off 82 deliveries, but lost his partner when after pulling Boyden for four, McManus attempted a similar shot to the Lancashire youngster and was caught at deep square-leg.

Northamptonshire began the last 10 overs needing 58 more to win, but suffered an immediate blow when Broad was trapped lbw trying to sweep Morley.

Batting with a runner due to an injury sustained while fielding, Ricardo Vasconcelos (19) clattered Morley through extra cover and cut Venkatesh square. Miller meanwhile scooped Venkatesh for four as Northamptonshire went into the last two overs needing 21 to win. Two wides helped Northamptonshire’s cause, but although Miller took hit Venkatesh behind square for four, Vasconelos was caught in the deep with the Steelbacks still needing 13 off eight deliveries. Despite Miller smashing Green for four off the last over, he was run out for 27, leaving the tail enders just too much to do off the final two deliveries.

Lancashire all-rounder Josh Boyden said: “The win feels amazing. It's been a tough few weeks, a tough competition. There's been a lot we've been doing well, but just struggling to get over the line.

[On getting over the line in a close game] “It's massive, especially when you've been in the field for 50 overs, batting and bowling. You’re tired, you want to get off. You want to win, and then when you do win, everyone seems to get loads of energy back! It's just fantastic.

“It's been an unreal past few days [for me]. It's been a long two years’ struggle with injuries. So big thanks to the Strength and Conditioning team for getting me back on the field and I'm just happy to get the opportunity to showcase my skills and do all right.

“I was first signed, and then I got a stress fracture, so that was the big one, and then got fit from that, and then came back from preseason to have a hernia operation. So, that was even worse, and then just little things throughout the year, that put me out for a week or two. But now I’ve been to Australia [last winter], I’m fit as a fiddle now.

[On his experience in Australia] “That was unreal. It really helped me develop. Not only bowling, but batting wise. I came back and proved myself as an all-rounder. That was the best five months I’ve ever had [in Australia].

[How optimistic were you, that you could break into the first team this season?] “I was pretty optimistic. I think not only just cricket, physically as well. I looked after myself while I was out in Australia. I had a pretty good preseason, which put me in good stead for the first squad against Surrey at home, and then just performing in the Twos and I finally got my opportunity.

[On making his senior debut at Old Trafford this past week] “It just makes it that extra special. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. My mum and dad were there as well, which just made it mean even more.

[His innings today] “It's not often that I get to bat for that period of time. It's normally only the last five overs. So having a bit more time feels good. I feel like, if you ask any bowler what their memory is of cricket, it’s always a batting one and I feel like that's the same for me as well.

“The first wicket’s always nice, struggled a little bit through the middle, but got a pretty big wicket [McManus], so that changed the game.”

 

Northamptonshire all-rounder Justin Broad said: “We were obviously disappointed not to get the result, but on a personal note, I was happy to get the opportunity up to order today, and I'm glad I took it. It would have been nice to carry the boys all the way, but yeah, nice to get a start for sure.

“I think today was pretty tough to get going. It was one of those grinding wickets. Obviously, we've played, I think, eight innings on it now, on the same pitch. So yeah, it was just about trying to rotate the strike, and then when you get a bad ball, putting it away. But yeah, it's nice to be tested in those different situations. Yeah, hopefully I've shown I can adapt to different situations.

[Where would he have batted if Vasconcelos had been fit enough to open the innings?] “I would have been eight again.

[On getting plenty of opportunities this year with bat and ball, batting in most positions including opening and taking the new ball at times] “It's been nice to prove myself with the ball. I feel like Lewis [McManus has backed me in this competition, which has given me confidence just to go out there and try to do what I do. But still work to be done, for sure, but it's exciting.

“I’m just happy to be playing and try to take every opportunity I can get and hopefully get up the order more consistently at some stage.

“We’ll be looking very hard to try and finish off the tournament on a high note. It's been a disappointing competition for us. But yeah, every game we play for Northants we want to win, so we'll definitely be going to Kent with that sort of plan.”

Notts Outlaws v Essex, Group B, Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Nottinghamshire Outlaws’ hopes of reaching the knock-out phases of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup were ended when an Essex side who were already eliminated still pulled off a crushing victory by seven wickets at Trent Bridge. Robin Das, opening and still unbeaten, posted a maiden white-ball century off the last ball of the match.

The 20-year old Jamal Richards, one of five in the Essex side raised like Das in north-east London, earlier claimed 5-31 with wholeheated, bustling pace. His best figures in all cricket halted an Outlaws surge to 96-1 and later helped induce a plummet from 163-4 to 218 all out despite Ben Slater’s 47 and 52 from South African Matt Montgomery.

Other youngsters then saw Essex maturely home as Das and Noah Thain, neither of them yet past his 23^rd birthday, put on 185 for the third wicket. Das finished with 100 from 119 balls whilst the teenage Thain fell with victory five runs away for 83, his best in Essex cricket so far.

If they could not quite match Essex’s partnership record for the third wicket (268 by Graham Gooch and Keith Fletcher, both veterans at the time) the elder statesman would dearly have relished their stand.

Chasing 219, Luc Benkenstein soon went to a spectacular catch on the mid-wicket boundary as Jack Haynes, running back, caught the ball, threw it up, went over the rope but skipped back to grab it a second time. And Rob Lord made it two wickets in his opening 13 balls when Tom Westley lost off stump to one that kept low.

But as Das and Thain went forward with a calm judgement that belied their inexperience, the asking rate, initially 4.38, remained between 4.19 and 4.55 throughout the reply’s first 35 overs. At this point they raced forward as the match was claimed with 39 balls to spare.

The Outlaws, put in, had earlier built a 40-run platform from the day’s first eight overs before Haynes, reprieved on five and 14, edged a slash to fall finally for 17.

In his 64^th first-team match in all formats, Feroze Khushi at last saw his off-spin called up for a maiden outing but it was Richards, the sixth bowler of seven employed, who ended a 56-run stand when Slater was held by Khushi at backward point off his third ball and Haseeb Hameed was bowled for nought by his fifth, a beauty.

When Richards, one of seven men aged 25 or under in the line-up, ended an impressive 33 from teenager Freddie McCann, Nottinghamshire, losing three in six overs,  were 123-4 in the 26^th.

Tom Moores revived things with 33 from only 28 balls but fell in the deep attempting a second successive six over mid-wicket before Lyndon James, Liam Patterson-White and Calvin Harrison all came and went cheaply in a disastrous half hour.

The last of the trio was wonderfully caught by the leaping Khushi to bring Richards his fourth success at the start of his second spell and he ended things when Montgomery, flailing, miscued to deep cover with 16 balls unused.

ROBIN DAS. Essex opener who made 100 not out: "We've been slightly short of match-winning perfomances in the 50-over cup this year so it's greatly gratifying to get the win. In terms of individual performances we've had good ones at times but not ones that have seen us home. We speak about this in the dressing room, knowing it's vital to have people putting their hand up at the right time.

 We were ruthless thls time"

"To be honest it was really nice to get the win - just having time to finish my hundred was the bonus. This was not the tournament we'd been hoping for but I hope we can finish with another win on Wednesday."

"Noah (Thain) played absolutely beautifully at the other end and it was nice to see him get a chance higher up the order. It was tough work out there, for sure - not one of those wickets that get easier over time. Trent Bridge has had a lot of cricket this year and it this stage of the tournament it was no surprise there should be a bit of wear and tear.

"Jamal (Richards, who took his best figs, 5-31, in all his Essex cricket so far) was brilliant today. He's definitely been coming on all season. I'd say he's one fo the best players I've ever played with. None of us really believe in dead rubbers - Essex still want to win every game and we'll be looking to finish with one this week "

MATT MONTGOMERY (Notts top scorer - 52): "It was tough work for us today - on a used pitch we didn't get going to post a target. We were short: I'd say par was probably 260 to 270 though we'd have had a good go at defending 250."

"I was always going out to be positive and I don't think I really changed my approach. The fact is we didn't flow with the bat and we didn't get a partnership down the order. Obviously it's nice for me to make a fifty but it's always a bit sour when it's in a losing cause".

"Overall we've been close this one-day cup but not close enough. Some youngsters have definitely come on and it's been nice to see. I made my debut in this competition three years ago so I realise hw important the openings are. Both Lordy (Rob Lord) and Freddie (McCann) have made progress. But it's just a pity we couldn't deliver more".

Sussex Sharks v Surrey, Group B, County Ground, Hove, Brighton

Warwickshire v Yorkshire Vikings, Group B,  Rugby School Ground, Rugby

Yorkshire preserved their hopes of Metro Bank One Day Cup qualification by beating previously undefeated Warwickshire by six wickets at Rugby School.

The win was set up by George Hill's six for 28, the seventh-best List A figures for Yorkshire, which restricted the home side to 242 for nine. Only Rob Yates (72, 107 balls) ventured beyond the cameo stage as Warwickshire came in around 40 under par.

Yorkshire then reached 246 for four with 33 balls remaining after Harry Duke launched their reply with a vibrant 60 (51 balls) and the chase was seen to a comfortable conclusion by William Luxton (a maiden List century, 105 not out, 121) and Matthew Revis (51 not out, 65). It was a highly impressive chase in light of the loss of their two leading run-scorers in this year’s tournament - captain Shan Masood (international duty) and James Wharton (ankle injury).

Yorkshire’s campaign remains alive ahead of their final group game at Glamorgan next Wednesday while Warwickshire’s defeat was a missed opportunity but they remain strongly-placed in the Group B table ahead of their last match, against Nottinghamshire at Rugby.

Yorkshire chose to bowl and imposed early pressure, particularly through Ben Coad and Hill, the latter striking early blows in a spell of 6-1-17-3. Ed Barnard’s middle stump was rattled by a lovely ball before Will Rhodes pulled to mid-wicket. Hamza Shaikh lifted Hill for an audacious six over mid-wicket but the bowler’s revenge arrived two balls later with an lbw decision. Burgess became the fourth batter to fall between 10 and 15 when he swept Dom Bess to deep mid-wicket.

Sustained support at last arrived for Yates from Chris Benjamin (38, 38) in a stand of 56 in 11 overs before both perished slogging. Yates, having passed 50 for the tenth time in 30 List A innings, sought six off Matthew Revis but found only deep mid-wicket. Benjamin’s swipe at Hill found only thin air.

Hill hit the stumps for a third and fourth time when he castled Jake Lintott and Kai Smith (33, 24) and though the tail nurdled 30, the total still appeared inadequate.

Yorkshire’s reply was robustly launched by Duke after debutant Yash Vagadia flicked Olly Hannon-Dalby to short mid-wicket in the fourth over. The 22-year-old has struggled for fluency of late but raced to a 44-ball half-century including nine fours, one of which struck ECB Reporters Network correspondent Brian Halford a painful blow on the ankle.

Warwickshire hit back with three wickets in six overs. Duke top-edged a sweep at Lintott, Finlay Bean pulled Tazeem Ali’s second ball to deep mid-wicket and Jonathan Tattersall edged Lintott to slip.

Luxton and Matt Revis steadied the innings and then advanced it to victory in composed fashion in an unbroken partnership of 129 in 25 overs, Luxton posting his maiden List A ton with a six off Yates on the threshold of victory.

Warwickshire Performance Director Gavin Larsen said:

"We are still very well-placed in the group but it is always disappointing to lose. It would have been nice to keep up the momentum but you are not going to go through a campaign very often winning every game.

"I think we got taught a couple of lessons today by Yorkshire. I thought they played a really good game of cricket. They had slightly more intent than us throughout and that probably started at the top of our batting order when we lost a couple of wickets early and couldn't quite get the injection as we the innings went on. We sort of stumbled our way to a total of 242 when 270/280 was a minimum score on that pitch.

"I have absolutely loved it at Rugby School. The school has been brilliant in engaging with us and the players have loved it, having chatted to some of the Surrey players and again Yorkshire's today. The fans absolutely love outground cricket and let's hope it stays part of our programme." 

 

Yorkshire batter William Luxton said: 

"It was really pleasing today. The ball didn't really do much seam-wise. We knew it would spin later on and Lintott is a good bowler to so we just wanted to take it deep and then negotiate that. 

"I think we handled that middle period really well. When Rev came in we said if we hit a boundary and take a few singles every couple of overs we won't be far away. Rev played brilliantly under a lot of pressure  There was a bit of sledging out there and he handled it really well and should be proud of himself.

"The off-spinner was on as I approached my century so I thought I may as well have a go and try to get this game over with and luckily it came off. It was a good feeling.  I have been wanted to do it for a while so it was nice to finally get over the line. You can beat getting some runs and then walking off the pitch with a win so it was a very good day."

 

Worcestershire Rapids v Hampshire, Group A, , County Ground, New Road, Worcester

Worcestershire Rapids took another significant step towards the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One Day Cup as they overcame Hampshire by eight wickets at Visit Worcestershire New Road. 

An excellent all-round performance with ball and then bat secured a fifth win in seven games for the second placed Rapids.

It keeps them on course to clinch the top three spot needed to go through to the next stage of the 50 over tournament.

Victory also maintained the Rapids 100% home record in the competition after previous victories over Middlesex, Durham and Kent.

With eight senior players side-lined through injury, Worcestershire’s inexperienced and young attack again performed admirably to dismiss Hampshire for 164 in 47.4 overs.

Academy player Jack Home continued his impressive form since his promotion with another three wickets to take his tally to 15 in four One Day Cup games with some more pacey and threatening bowling.

Ethan Brookes also maintained his excellent run with the ball and spinners Fateh Singh and Tom Hinley had such a grip on proceedings that they returned overall figures of 20-1-59-1.

Gareth Roderick and Ed Pollock then ensured that there would be no alarms for the Rapids in reaching their modest target with a spendlid century opening stand.

Pollock was the dominant partner in racing to his half century off just 44 balls with one six and 10 fours.

But Roderick was the perfect foil and his 47 took his run tally to 385 – the third highest overall in this year’s competition.

Hampshire will console themselves with the fact they are still in contention themselves to qualify despite a below par performance and a third setback of the campaign.

Worcestershire made two changes with Home and Hishaam Khan replacing the rested Tom Taylor and Harry Darley.

Hampshire also made changes with Joe Weatherley, released to play by Southern Brave, and Mohammad Abbas coming in for Joseph Eckland and Eddie Jack.

Hampshire captain Nick Gubbins opted to bat on winning the toss on the same wicket used for Wednesday’s encounter against Kent.

Tommy Sturgess took the new ball and struck in his second over when Weatherley (10) attempted a cut and edged through to keeper Roderick.

Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins scored freely during the powerplay but in the 10th and final over the former went to pull Hishaam Khan and fell to a good catch by Fateh Singh running back to backward square leg.

Home came into the attack and claimed the wicket of Gubbins and Ben Brown in the space of three deliveries during his first over. 

Gubbins tried to leave a shortish ball but the ball hit the back of his bat and went through to Roderick.

Brown then nicked a delivery which moved away from him and Roderick pouched his third catch of the innings.

Brookes, Worcestershire most economical bowler in this year’s tournament, also enjoyed success in his first over as Tom Prest mistimed a pull to mid on where Khan took a fine low catch.

Toby Albert (26) was fortunate to inside edge Home for a boundary but the introduction of Singh led to his downfall as he was trapped lbw after sweeping.

There was another scalp for Singh as Organ, having struggled for 35 balls in making nine, picked out Rob Jones at short cover.

Brookes kept the pressure on the Hampshire batters from the New Road during a frugal spell of 7-1-12-1.

There was no let-up for the visitors and Kyle Abbott then pushed forward to Tom Hinley and was neatly stumped by Roderick at 113-8.

The ninth wicket pair of Dominic Kelly and Brad Wheal batted sensibly in adding 36 before Home returned to the attack and bowled the latter after he went for an expansive drive. 

Some late blows from Kelly (45) lifted the final total before he tried to sweep Brookes and the ball ballooned up for Roderick to complete another dismissal.

The Rapids were given a positive start to their reply by Pollock and Roderick and negotiated their way through the initial powerplay against the new ball threat posed by Abbott and Mohammad Abbas.

Roderick straight drove Abbott to the boundary and turned the same bowler through mid wicket to the ropes while Pollock collected three boundaries in an over from Abbas.

Pollock greeted Wheal’s introduction into the attack with a maximum over mid wicket and successive boundaries off the same bowler carried him to his half century.

His fine knock ended on 67 out of 104 in the 23rd over when he sliced Prest to backward point.

Roderick fell at extra cover off Gubbins but Rob Jones and Jake Libby quickly saw their side over the finishing line with 13.4 overs to spare.

Worcestershire spinner Fateh Singh said: “The team have been excellent today. We came thinking Hampshire have been good in this competition and we just wanted to give them a really good test.

“Libbs (Jake Libby) said in the chat before the game ‘I want you boys to treat this as a knockout game’ and almost basically put your lives on it.

“The way we started, the opening bowlers started well, got a wicket apiece, Homey came on and did what he does, got two or three wickets.

“It allowed me to then come on and bowl at the middle order with their team in a sticky situation at 70-5.

“As a spinner, it is never easy bowling but if you can on at it’s 70-5 and two batters are under pressure, then you love it.

“Jack (Home) was bowling and myself and Libbs were at mid on-mid off and we said ‘he just creates chances, doesn’t he?’ It’s a happy knack.

“It’s just good for me playing cricket, and even better if you do well and get a few wickets, it’s a nice feeling.”

 

Hampshire Head Coach Adrian Birrell said: “It’s been a long trip to lose two matches quite convincingly (to Durham and Worcestershire away). It hasn’t been a good trip.

“What wrong today? Batting again. We seem to have half an hour when we lose quite a few wickets and basically the game is gone.

“We’ve done it two games in a row and those sort of collapses have hurt us. Fought like hell with the ball but we didn’t get enough runs to put pressure on them.

“I thought they came out and played pretty well. One player (Ed Pollock) went for it and the other (Gareth Roderick) dug in and they got into a position where they couldn’t lose.

“Disappointing because not long ago we were almost at the top of the table and two game later we are now going to struggle to qualify.

“It wasn’t a fantastic wicket but they seemed to bat quite well on it. Likewise at Durham it was a tricky wicket, but you’ve got to adapt to the circumstances.

“We’ve done that very well at home and won four out of four there on some tricky wickets so there is no excuse there.

“We should adapt and not give wickets away like we have done a little bit.”

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