hamish rutherford become only the second player to score a century on first class and list a debut for worcestershire as the rapids overcame lancashire lightning in emphatic style by 125 runs in their opening royal london one-day cup clash.
daryl mitchell also hit another hundred after a run blitz from opener riki wessels had laid the early foundations for the rapids who amassed 367 all out at emirates old trafford.
the total was worcestershire’s second highest in 50 over cricket against first class opposition, only surpassed in last summer’s record run chase against leicestershire when they totalled 380-4.
their bowlers then kept the red rose county firmly in check as they attempted to chase down a daunting target.
several top order players achieved ‘starts’ but, unlike the worcestershire batsmen, no-one capitalised and they were bowled out for 242 in 40.4 overs.
it was another mightily impressive performance by worcestershire – the north group winners for the past two years – after their innings victory over leicestershire in the specsavers county championship.
rutherford notched up a century against the foxes and reached three figures against the lightning with a six off australian glenn maxwell.
it came from just 90 deliveries and contained three sixes and nine fours.
the only other worcestershire player to complete a first class-list a hundred double on their debut was australian phil jaques in 2006.
he scored a century against surrey in the championship at the kia oval and followed it with a ton versus northamptonshire at New Road in the 50 over competition.
the early momentum came from wessels on his list a debut and he picked up early sixes off england’s jimmy anderson and fellow paceman saqib mahmood.
he reeled off a succession of powerful boundaries and scored 40 of the first 50 runs on the board.
rutherford also cleared the ropes at the expense of steven croft – over wide long on – as the pair brought up the century stand in just 12.2 overs.
wessels raced to 72 from just 45 deliveries with three sixes and nine fours when he was caught at wide mid-off against leg spinner matt parkinson.
tom fell (3) fell at mid-wicket off maxwell but then mitchell joined forces with rutherford and the pair cut loose during a partnership of 182 in 23 overs – a scoring rate of nearly eight an over.
rutherford brought up his century in the grand manner as he swept maxwell for his third six. he had faced 90 balls and also struck nine fours.
mitchell had scored a match-winning hundred against lancashire at New Road in the same competition last summer and he against showed his liking for the red rose county.
he completed his century off only 78 balls with one six and 11 fours.
the stand was broken at 292-3 when rutherford (108) was caught at cover by dane vilas off parkinson.
eight runs later mitchell’s fine knock of 101 ended when he was stumped – also from the bowling of parkinson.
it became 312-5 when acting skipper brett d’oliveira (2) uppercut a delivery from mahmood into the hands of third man.
ross whiteley (36 off 31 balls) and ben cox (24 off 22) added 40 before the last five wickets went down for 16 runs.
whiteley and cox were both caught going for legside hits, wayne parnell (6) and charlie morris (1) were bowled and josh tongue (0) was run out by a direct hit at the non striker’s end.
parkinson ended with figures of 5-51 from 10 overs.
when lancashire batted, morris made a breakthrough in his second over when haseeb hameed (5) edged through to mitchell who took a low catch at slip with 17 on the board.
keaton jennings and keeper brooke guest added 75 for the second wicket but then wayne parnell dismissed the pair in successive overs.
jennings (54) went for a lap shot and scooped the ball on the on side into the hands of rutherford at short fine leg.
guest (36) then made room to play a big shot and was comprehensively bowled by the paceman.
maxwell showed early aggressive intent but after making 35 fell victim to d’oliveira when he dragged a ball to mitchell at mid on at 141-4 in the 25th over.
mitchell then switched into bowling mode and accounted for lancashire captain dane vilas (29) who flicked the ball to d’oliveira at mid-wicket.
in the next over whiteley collected a useful scalp when rob jones (27) was plumb lbw with the total 189-6 in the 33rd over.
the end was in sight for lancashire when josh bohannon (2) skied a mitchell delivery to keeper cox and mahmood (0) was run out by wessel’s direct off side hit off the bowling of morris.
tongue accounted for anderson (4) lbw and sealed victory by bowling parkinson (10).
