Statistical Preview: Worcestershire Rapids

Derbyshire welcome Worcestershire to The Incora County Ground in the Metro Bank One Day Cup for the first time in a List A game since 2019 when the sides produced a feast of runs.  

Heritage Officer David Griffin previews the match.

The game at Derby in 2017 produced a record aggregate for a one-day game involving Derbyshire of 704 runs, Worcestershire scoring 353 for six in reply to Derbyshire’s 351 for nine. Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen both scored centuries for Derbyshire before Riki Wessels and Callum Ferguson both replied with three figure scores. Wessels made 130, reaching his hundred off only 47 balls, smashing ten sixes and scoring his last 80 runs off only 31 deliveries. It remains the fastest hundred ever scored at Derby, equalled since by Wayne Madsen in a T20 game against Durham in 2022.

This will be the 62^nd scheduled one day match between the two counties, Derbyshire winning 27 of them, Worcestershire 30, with two games abandoned and two ending in no result.

Derbyshire have recorded nine individual hundreds against Worcestershire with Luis Reece and John Wright making two apiece. Reece’s 136 at New Road in 2022 is the highest individual score and helped to secure a comfortable 47-run victory.

The highest partnership against Worcestershire is 222 for the second wicket between Reece and Madsen at Derby in 2019, although one of the most explosive was produced for the seventh wicket by Iain Anderson and Michael Holding in a John Player League match at Derby in 1987.

Holding had bowled an exquisite eight over spell in which he was almost unplayable, bowling off a shortened run but maintaining both pace and a high level of control to take three for 17. Allan Warner took four for 34 and Worcestershire’s total of 175 for nine seemed below par.

However, Derbyshire’s reply was soon in tatters at 45 for six before Anderson, who ended the game on 41 not out, was joined by Holding. The great West Indian paceman rarely wore a batting helmet, largely on the basis that few opposition bowlers were likely to bowl short at him, and this innings was no exception. Playing circumspectly for a couple of overs, Holding suddenly cut loose, smashing five sixes and three fours as he made 54 off just 31 balls. Although it was thrilling cricket, when Holding was bowled by Neal Radford, more than 50 runs were still required but Warner batted in an equalling attacking mode to make an undefeated 39 off 33 balls to see Derbyshire home with nine deliveries to spare.

Another overseas player, New Zealander Hamish Rutherford scored the most sixes in a one-day innings against Worcestershire, hitting seven in his superb 104 at Worcester in 2016, while yet one more, the great Eddie Barlow recorded the best bowling figures of five for 30 at Worcester in 1978.

Colin Tunnicliffe and Warner also took five wickets in an innings, at Worcester in 1981 and Knypersley in 1985 respectively, while Tunnicliffe also took the sole hat trick against Worcestershire at Derby in 1979.

You can purchase tickets for all of Derbyshire’s Metro Bank One Day Cup home games by clicking the links below.