Worcestershire Beat Essex by 60 Runs in High-Scoring One-Day Cup Clash

On a vibrant August day at the County Ground in Chelmsford, Worcestershire faced Essex in a thrilling Group A encounter of the One-Day Cup. The match unfolded with intensity as Worcestershire set a formidable target and Essex battled hard in their chase. Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat, posting 340 for 9 in their 50 overs. Essex responded with determination but fell short at 280 all out in 45.2 overs.

Worcestershire Innings

Worcestershire’s batting effort blended steady starts with explosive finishes to set a challenging total. The innings began with openers Isaac Mohammed and Brett D’Oliveira. Mohammed, a 17-year-old debutant and nephew of Moeen Ali, showed remarkable composure. He mixed solid defense with calculated aggression, finding boundaries through crisp drives and lofted shots. D’Oliveira played a supporting role, focusing on strike rotation. Their partnership added 60 runs in 13.3 overs, laying a solid foundation. D’Oliveira struggled to accelerate, scoring 13 off 36 balls with one four before being caught by Nick Browne off Noah Thain’s disciplined bowling.

After a flurry of boundaries, we move to 150! 👏

Rapids 150/2 (28 overs) pic.twitter.com/Ljbi55u8VR

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

Mohammed continued to impress, reaching his maiden professional half-century. He scored 63 off 75 balls at a strike rate of 84.00, hitting five fours and four sixes. His ability to clear the infield and punish loose deliveries stood out. In the 21.4th over, Essex captain Tom Westley introduced spin and trapped Mohammed lbw, leaving Worcestershire at 107 for 2. His knock had provided stability, but the innings needed more firepower.

Kashif Ali joined captain Jake Libby, and the pair built a crucial 110-run stand for the third wicket over 17 overs. Ali played with aggression, unleashing a variety of shots to maintain momentum. He scored 80 off 73 balls at a strike rate of 109.58, striking nine fours and two sixes. His cover drives and lofted shots punished any wayward bowling. Libby anchored the innings with 70 off 63 balls, hitting six fours and one six. His composed gap-finding complemented Ali’s flair, keeping the run rate near 6 per over. The partnership ended in the 38.2nd over when Ali was caught by Thain off Luc Benkenstein’s spin.

Ethan Brookes then ignited the innings with a blistering 56 off 25 balls. His death-over onslaught included six fours and four sixes, targeting Chelmsford’s short boundaries with power and precision. He added 80 runs with Libby in just 6.1 overs, pushing Worcestershire past 300. Libby’s innings ended in the 45.3rd over, caught by Westley off Matt Critchley’s leg-spin. His 70 had been instrumental in sustaining momentum.

The lower order kept the scoreboard moving despite late wickets. Henry Cullen scored 11 off 8 balls, including a six, before being adjudged lbw to Shane Snater in the 47.4th over. Matthew Waite fell for a duck in a run-out in the 45.5th over. Ben Allison added 13 off 9 balls with two fours, caught off Charlie Bennett’s bowling. Fateh Singh remained not out on 9 off 5 balls with a four, while Khurram Shahzad scored 1 before being caught off Snater in the 49.3rd over. Rob Jones finished unbeaten on 5 off 2 balls with a four. Extras contributed 19 runs, including 5 leg byes, 12 wides, and 2 no-balls, reflecting Essex’s occasional bowling lapses.

Our highest List A total against Essex 👊

Rapids 340/9 (50 overs) pic.twitter.com/FYK58DVhAQ

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

Essex’s bowling effort was led by Shane Snater, who took 2 for 50 in 10 overs with two maidens. Luc Benkenstein claimed 2 for 71 in 9 overs, while Charlie Bennett, Noah Thain, Tom Westley, and Matt Critchley each took one wicket. Bennett’s 9 overs cost 70 runs, and Critchley’s 8 overs went for 50, showing Worcestershire’s dominance. Jamal Richards proved expensive, conceding 45 in 6 overs without a wicket. The bowlers struggled in the final 10 overs, where Worcestershire amassed 112 runs.

Essex Innings

Chasing 341, Essex needed a strong start, and openers Robin Das and Matt Critchley delivered. Das batted with intent, scoring 51 off 50 balls at a strike rate of 102.00, with six fours and two sixes. Critchley added 28 off 28 balls with four boundaries. Their 71-run stand in 11.1 overs set a positive tone, but Ben Allison struck, bowling Critchley with a full delivery. Das continued his assault until Ethan Brookes had caught him in the 14.3rd over, leaving Essex at 92 for 2.

😁 https://t.co/YhL7HAFG63 pic.twitter.com/meSeyRL94r

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

Tom Westley anchored the chase, scoring 43 off 48 balls with four fours. He shared a 46-run partnership with Charlie Allison, who made 21 off 33 balls with three boundaries. Allison fell to Fateh Singh’s spin in the 24.2nd over, slowing Essex’s momentum. Luc Benkenstein injected energy with 23 off 17 balls, including four fours, but was caught by Brookes off Brett D’Oliveira in the 27.5th over.

Westley’s dismissal in the 30.3rd over, bowled by Singh, left Essex at 177 for 5, making the chase steep. Noah Thain fought back with 28 off 24 balls, hitting three fours and a six, but was caught and bowled by Brookes in the 36.2nd over. Simon Fernandes raised hopes with a quick 17 off 11 balls with three fours, but Brookes dismissed him in the 34.1st over.

The lower order showed fight, with Jamal Richards unbeaten on 34 off 34 balls with four fours. Shane Snater scored 7 off 6 with a boundary before being caught off Khurram Shahzad in the 39.1st over. Nick Browne added 22 off 19 balls with two fours but was run out in the 44.6th over. Charlie Bennett fell for a duck, caught off Matthew Waite in the 45.2nd over, ending Essex’s innings at 280. They managed 6 extras, all wides, but their run rate of 6.17 fell short.

🌊 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡 🙌

A comfortable victory in Chelmsford! 👏 pic.twitter.com/4ygaWGZ1zb

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

Worcestershire’s bowling was disciplined. Ethan Brookes led with 3 for 52 in 10 overs, breaking key partnerships. Fateh Singh took 2 for 38 in 6 overs, troubling the middle order. Matthew Waite (1 for 46 in 7.2 overs), Khurram Shahzad (1 for 49 in 8 overs), Ben Allison (1 for 46 in 8 overs), and Brett D’Oliveira (1 for 49 in 6 overs) contributed. Brookes and Singh were particularly effective, ensuring Essex couldn’t build lasting partnerships.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Kashif Ali’s explosive 80 off 73 balls earned TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. His 98-minute innings featured nine fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 109.58. Ali’s aggression anchored Worcestershire’s middle order after D’Oliveira’s early exit.

🌊 𝟱𝟬 𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙 𝗔𝗟𝗜 👏

Kash backs up his century with another landmark! 🔥

Rapids 184/2 (33.5 overs) pic.twitter.com/1SSMsmgcxO

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

His 110-run partnership with Jake Libby, who scored 70, was pivotal in building a commanding 340 for 9. Ali’s cover drives and lofted shots punished Essex’s bowlers, setting the tone for Worcestershire’s dominance. He fell to Luc Benkenstein, caught by Noah Thain, but his knock left a lasting impact.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Ethan Brookes earned TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his stellar bowling. He bowled 10 overs, delivering 34 dot balls with an economy rate of 5.20. Brookes took three crucial wickets like Robin Das (51), Noah Thain (28), and Simon Fernandes (17), disrupting Essex’s chase. His dismissals in the 14th, 34th, and 36th overs shifted momentum.

𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧 ☝️

A stunning grab from Tom Hinley removes Das! 🔥

Essex 92/2 (14.3 overs) pic.twitter.com/AXgfibMStb

— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 10, 2025

Despite one wide, he conceded only 52 runs in a high-scoring chase. Brookes also excelled in the field, taking catches to support his team. His all-round contribution, including a rapid 56 with the bat, was decisive in Worcestershire’s victory.