Captain Jake Libby continued his stellar form in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, leading Worcestershire Rapids to a three-wicket victory over Kent Spitfires at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Libby scored 75 off 68 balls, his fourth half-century in five innings this season, guiding Worcestershire to chase down Kent’s target of 259 with seven balls to spare. This performance maintains Worcestershire's strong position for knockout qualification.
Rob Jones also played a crucial role with a half-century, while 18-year-old Charlie Home’s three-wicket haul had initially put Worcestershire in a strong position by reducing Kent to 70 for 5. Kent's recovery came through Charlie Stobo, who scored 72, and Grant Stewart, who made 78, leading a 91-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Home, who has taken 12 wickets in three One Day Cup games, faced resistance from Stobo and Stewart but will gain valuable experience from this match.
Despite disciplined bowling from Kent's seamers that kept Worcestershire behind the required rate, Jones and Libby anchored the chase. Libby was eventually run out with 26 runs still needed, but Hishaam Khan’s boundary secured the win.
Worcestershire, after winning the toss and putting Kent into bat, saw early breakthroughs from Sturgess and Khan. Home’s three-wicket spell reduced Kent to 70 for 5, but Stobo and Stewart’s efforts brought Kent to 259 all out.
In Worcestershire's innings, Ed Pollock hit 6-4-4 off Stewart but fell soon after. Gareth Roderick and Rob Jones added 49 before Roderick was dismissed. Jones scored a vital half-century before falling to a return catch. Libby’s innings were pivotal, but he was run out attempting a second run. Singh’s dismissal left 21 runs required, which Khan and Tom Hinley chased down to secure victory.