Callum Ferguson believes Worcestershire Rapids can “go all the way” on Vitality Blast finals day at Edgbaston on September 15.
The Australian batsman admits it will be “flattening” to miss the climax to the competition after hitting a match-winning half century in the quarter-final win over Gloucestershire.
But Ferguson, who is returning Down Under early next week, has no doubt that the Rapids can make their mark in three weeks time in Birmingham.
He told BBC Hereford-Worcester: “I won’t be there for finals day and it is going to be flattening watching it from a distance – but I know how much it means to this group.
“They’ve been really close the last few years in all formats so the chance to go to a finals day is huge for this group.
“It’s a young group so to get that experience under their belt will be great.
“They’ve played a lot of quarter-finals and semi-finals and this was a great experience for them to get over the line in one of them.
“I think they will go into finals day with a lot of confidence. It is a really well rounded side, plenty of options with the bat and the ball.
“I believe this side can go all the way.”
Worcestershire chased down a 137 target against their local rivals.
Ferguson said: “It was hard work. They bowled really well early on and made us earn it. They picked up a few wickets so we were on the back foot a little bit.
But I thought once Rosco (Ross Whiteley) came in, the energy sort of lifted a little bit and we were able to get on top which was great.
“I thought Coxy (Ben Cox), once he started to show a bit more intent, then things started to lift a bit before Rosco came in so that was good.
“Then to finish it off, we kept wickets in hand which on that wicket was really important I think and we were able to get over the line reasonably comfortably in the end which was fantastic.
“I thought it was a 160-175 pitch. I thought our bowlers did a fantastic job coming out of the powerplay.
“To drag it back, Daryl Mitchell did a great job, Brett D’Oliveira as well, and the quicks came back really well so it was a really good all-round effort with the ball to keep them well under par.”
