Steve Rhodes is backing Worcestershire Rapids to produce an improved performance after today's 133 run home defeat by Yorkshire Vikings when they return to Royal London One-Day Cup action tomorrow against Somerset at Taunton.
Director of Cricket Rhodes said the Rapids failed to match the 'A' game performance of the Vikings for whom Glenn Maxwell scored a 71 ball century in their 345-6 before dismissing their opponents for 212 in the 42nd over.
Rhodes said: "Yorkshire played really well today and we weren't quite at our best at all. The result was inevitable I thought. Their bowling, batting and fielding was exceptional.
"When you play against someone who has a real 'A' game you've got to make sure you have an 'A' game and we didn't do that.
"We were a bit sloppy in the field, we had some silly run-outs at the top of the innings in the chase and possibly we could have started with the ball a little bit better as well.
"Things to work on for tomorrow and things to get right for tomorrow and I'm confident we will do.
"We've fielded immaculately all summer long so I'm pretty sure we can get that back and certainly bat a bit better as well.
"You can't afford to get too down or think too deeply about it. You need to try and repair some of the work that wasn't particularly good and get it right.
"What did we get right. We didn't actually bowl that badly. Yorkshire played really well. In Glenn Maxwell they've got an electric one-day player who was due some runs.
"He needed some runs, he was always going to get some runs and sadly it was against us. We didn't bowl particularly badly at him and he has got an amazing array of shots and hits 360 degrees.
"When Maxwell decides today is going to be the day it seems that he can do it, he can really turn it on. He turned it on today and he helped them get a really big total.
"But on top of that, I thought the bowlers at the start of our innings were also exceptional. They didn't give us anything to hit and made life difficult for what was a difficult chase anyway."
The highlight of the Rapids reply was another big-hitting display from Ross Whiteley who smashed five sixes in his 77 off just 51 balls before he was last out.
Rhodes said: "Ross has got 270 runs in three innings against Yorkshire and that's testament to the good form he is in but also the hard work he has put in.
"People might think these things come easy but a lot of hard work goes into practice in trying to get things right. He has put in the work and now he deserves some reward.
"He has shown once again he can hit a very clean ball and hopefully there is a lot more to come in this competition and the rest of the season from Ross."
