Worcestershire Rapids provided a stiff test for North Group leaders Surrey before eventually going down by 36 runs in a Royal London One-Day Cup match at the Kia Oval under lights this evening.
The Rapids made a brave effort to reach a challenging target of 329 in 50 overs of which Jason Roy (99), Kumar Sangakkara (76) and Rory Burns (61) were the main contributors.
Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell, who suffered a hamstring injury, Tom Fell and Joe Clarke all made half centuries – the latter registering his first in List A cricket in only his second appearance.
They were eventually bowled out for 292 in the 47th over. Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18) put on 43 for the first wicket with Mitchell before he was caught off a leading edge from a Sam Curran delivery at short extra cover.
Mitchell pulled up after taking a single off Jade Dernbach and needed treatment from physio Ben Davies and was only able to continue with Kohler-Cadmore employed as a runner.
The 31-year-old was grimacing everytime he hit the ball but went to his 50 off 57 balls with seven fours out of 77-1 in the 16th over.
Mitchell pulled two more deliveries from James Burke for four but on 59 was undone by a ball from spinner Gareth Batty which turned and bounced and he was caught off the glove by keeper Gary Wilson.
Fell brought up his 50 with a six off Batty and it came from 58 balls and also contained three fours.
He moved onto 63 before caught behind off a thin edge from a Sam Curran delivery – after adding 98 in 17 overs with Clarke – and then Brett D'Oliveira (3) was bowled via a bottom edge by Tom Curran.
Clarke went to his half century from 57 balls with four fours and a six with a lofted four off Burke but in the same over was caught at deep mid wicket for 54.
Ross Whiteley hit a quickfire 35 off 24 balls before he holed out to long on off a Burke full toss and Joe Leach was bowled by Sam Curran for four.
Ben Cox made a breezy 21 before Burke spreadeagled the stumps with an excellent yorker and then Dernbach wrapped the game up by bowling Ed Barnard (16) and having Saeed Ajmal (0) caught behind off a bouncer in successive balls.
When Surrey batted, Jack Shantry accounted for Steve Davies (13) but then Roy and Sangakkara added 144 for the second wicket in 25 overs.
It took a stunning one-handed catch by Mitchell in mid air at cover off Shantry to dismiss Sangakkara.
Equally impressive was a low one-handed catch by Cox away to his right to dismiss Roy one short of his century from a Leach delivery.
Cox was excellent all evening behind the stumps and a sharp stumping enabled him to get rid of Burns from the last delivery of Saeed Ajmal's spell.
Zafar Ansari (18), Burke (3) and Wilson (34) were all run out by some excellent fielding and cool heads amongst the Worcestershire players as Surrey closed on 328-7.
