Gareth Roderick’s Stunning 152* Ensures Victory Over Derbyshire, Guides Worcestershire to Top of Group A
Gareth Roderick’s undefeated 152 leads Worcestershire Rapids to eight wickets victory at the County Ground as Derbyshire suffered its first loss of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup season 2024.
In order to lead the visitors to 261 for 2 and a third Group A victory, Gareth Roderick struck 152 from 139 balls and shared an uninterrupted third-wicket stand of 161 from 153 with captain Jake Libby, who remained not out on 71.
Derbyshire 260 (Came 71, Home 6-51) lost to Worcestershire 261 for 2 (Roderick 152*, Libby 71*) by 8 wickets.
Fast bowler Jack Home, eighteen, of Worcestershire, also made a significant contribution. In just his third senior match, he took Derbyshire for 260 with his best figures of 6 for 51.
After Harry Came hit 71, the hosts fell apart, going from 110 for 1 to 192 for 8, before Daryn Dupavillon and Zak Chappell combined for 48 from 33 balls and 63 from 45 balls.
With three wins in a row, Derbyshire got off to a strong start against a Worcestershire side that was without six bowlers due to injuries. The inexperience of the Worcestershire attack was evident in the first powerplay.
Harry Darley bowled two no-balls and two wides in his third over, costing 14 runs, despite having two maidens in his opening spell.
Came and Reece enjoyed a double-century opening stand against Middlesex last Saturday and they established the groundwork for another huge partnership by adding 82 from 92 balls in untroubled way. But Reece pulled a full toss from Home into his stumps in the 15th over and the introduction of spin stalled Derbyshire’s momentum.
Tom Hinley and Fateh Singh bowled in perfect combination, with Hinley getting rid of Brook Guest with a quick return catch and David Lloyd cutting him low to point.
As Matt Lamb attempted to pull Home with the ball limply lobbing to mid-on, his bat broke in two, physically shattering the innings.
Samit Patel successfully avoided a pull, while Yousaf Bin Naeem was also dismissed by a short ball during his senior debut. Following a tight stint, Ethan Brookes was rewarded by trapping Came leg before wicket. However, in the last overs, Chappell and Dupavillon gave Derbyshire a much-needed boost with some clean hitting, helping the hosts reach a respectable total.
Before Home returned to complete the innings and record the greatest List A stats by a Worcestershire bowler in 19 years, they destroyed 22 off Darley’s penultimate over.
When Worcestershire started to chase Chappell, he still had the force and in the fifth over bowled Ed Pollock off an inside edge. However, Roderick was in excellent form, hitting nine fours in his fifty, which was achieved off 51 balls, and dominating an eighty-eight-ball stand with Rob Jones.
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In contrast, Jones never appeared to be in control. He guided Chappell to backward point, where Sam Conners made a nice, low catch, after Jones had scored 17 from 35 balls.
Roderick and Libby were crucial to Worcestershire’s chances; they played well together without taking any chances to keep the goal in sight. After Conners’ over, Roderick hit three fours and reached his second century in three games off of 101 balls.
After hitting Conners over mid-off and lofting Patel over wide long-on for six, he reached the 200 mark, surpassing his previous best one-day total of 137 against his former side, Gloucestershire, the previous year.
Before Worcestershire easily won with 32 balls remaining, Libby, who had played an equally significant part, got his 50 from 48 balls and Roderick finished his 150 from 136 balls.
