Eagles shot down by Rapids record stand

Essex Eagles v Worcestershire Rapids – Royal London One Day Cup – Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford – Summary

Worcestershire Rapids 338/7 (50.0 overs)

Essex Eagles 156 (31.3 overs)

Essex Eagles won the toss and elected to bowl

Worcestershire Rapids won by 182 runs

A record opening wickets stand of 243 between Jack Haynes and Brett D’Oliveira catapulted Worcestershire Rapids to a sizable 182-run victory over previously unbeaten Essex eagles at the Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford.

The Rapids’ duo took the Essex attack to task to cement a county-best. Haynes’ 179-minute stint in the middle gleaned 153 runs, a knock that included nineteen 4s and two 6s. Meanwhile, D’Oliveira’s 123 came off 116 balls as the visitors’ all but sealed the Eagles fate with immediate effect.

D’Oliveira’s departure – caught by Jack Plom off a delivery from Shane Snater – did very little to subside the avalanche. Simon Harmer (2/54) and Ben Allison (2/70) the pick of the Essex bowlers on what proved to be a difficult afternoon.

The chase never really picked up momentum. D’Oliveira continued to orchestrate the hosts’ demise, taking 3/8, while Jack Leach claimed 3/28 as Worcestershire wrapped things up with some to spare.

Wicketkeeper/batsman, Adam Wheater offered some resistance with 77 off 82 balls, while Alastair Cook chipped in with 42.

Essex Eagles return to Royal London One Day Cup action on Sunday, August 1 when Kent Spitfires visit the Cloudfm County Ground (11am).

Essex Eagles: WEL Buttleman, AN Cook, T Westley (Capt), MS Pepper, RN ten Doeschate, AJA Wheater (Capt), SR Harmer, ASS Nijjar, S Snater, BMJ Allison, JH Plom

Worcestershire Rapids: JA Haynes, BL D’Oliveira, TC Fell, JD Libby, GH Roderick (Capt), EG Barnard, JJ Dell, J Leach (Capt), JO Baker, CAJ Morris, AW Finch

Umpires: RK Illingworth and CM Watts

Scorers: P Parkinson and SM Drinkwater

Match Referee: Alec Swann