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Metro Bank One Day Cup Preview: Somerset v Worcestershire Rapids
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Worcestershire Rapids to the Cooper Associates County Ground in the Metro Bank One Day Cup tomorrow (Friday August 9th).
Gates open at 10am with play due to start at 11am.
Tickets for this match are available and can be purchased below:
At the time of writing, Somerset are top of Group A with eight points from six matches whilst Worcestershire are third with ueight points from five matches.
After the match, stay with us at the CACG for one of the best Bob Marley tribute acts around!
From 7pm all of the reggae legend’s biggest hits will be performed on the main stage in our fan village.
It’s the perfect way to round off your evening!
Prior to the Bob Marley Revival taking to the stage, you can enjoy live music from the brilliant Stevie Nicole Brown.
Highlights of the day will include:
Somerset in live action!
Somerset take on Worcestershire Rapids in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Play is due to get underway at 11am.
Join us for all the action at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The Bob Marley Revival
Finish off your day the perfect way by enjoying one of best tribute acts around as they bring you all the greatest hits of the legendary Bob Marley.
The Somerset Cricket Foundation inflatables.
Take part in fun cricket challenges and try to top the leaderboard
Food & Drink
There will be all manner of food and drink available in our Fan Village including authentic African Caribbean options.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no cans, glass or sharp implements will be permitted within the Cooper Associates County Ground.
For full Ground Regulations please visit the link below:
Members and supporters are not permitted to bring alcohol into Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures.
Ticket buyers can download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
All ticket or Membership collections will be from the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
The Club Enquiries Desk will be based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion on matchdays.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will reopen at 10am on Monday August 12th.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visiting Guide.
Scorecards will be available from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion. Completed scorecards can now be downloaded after the match via the Membership section of this website.
FAN VILLAGE & CATERING
We will once again be hosting our fan village in the St James Street side of the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The fan village will feature a wide range of food and drink.
Matchday food and drink will be available from the SCCC concessions and bars around the ground.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
Our live stream will once again be available for fans to watch via this website and at our YouTube channel.
You can also keep up to date using our dedicated matchday blog via this website’s Match Centre and on our X feed.
In association with Vertu Motors, Somerset County Cricket Club will be providing radio ear pieces to enable Members and supporters to enjoy our live ball-by-ball match commentary. These will be available to purchase from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at a cost of £12 and these will last all season.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Jake Libby
Overseas players: Nathan Smith (New Zealand)
2023 finish: Quarter-finals
2023 leading run scorer: Jake Libby (397)
2023 leading wicket taker: Josh Baker (17)
Key player: Jake Libby will again take over the captaincy of the 50-over side from club captain, Brett D’Oliveira. His calming presence at the top of the order is essential as he demonstrated consistently last summer with four half-centuries, while he is also capable of upping the scoring rate when the need requires.
Keep an eye on: Harry Darley. A raw but promising pace bowler who impressed in a T20 match versus New Zealand at Visit Worcestershire New Road last summer. Injuries to bowlers such as Nathan Smith, Joe Leach, Adam Finch and Ben Gibbon are likely to provide more opportunities in the 50-over competition.
Final thought: Worcestershire’s forte looks to lie in their batting where there is plenty of strength in depth with only Adam Hose on duty at The Hundred. But a series of long term injuries in their seam attack may make it difficult to emulate last summer’s success in reaching the last eight.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset have named the following squad for the match: Sean Dickson (c), George Thomas, Andy Umeed, Lewis Goldsworthy, James Rew, Josh Thomas, Archie Vaughan, Riley Meredith, Kasey Aldridge, Alfie Ogborne, Ned Leonard, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir and Charlie Cassell.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Interim Head Coach, Paul Tweddle said: “The players did a great job at Northants and put in a very professional performance. The atmosphere around the dressing room is excellent and we’ll be looking for a similar performance against Worcestershire tomorrow.
“I was really impressed by the way that we bounced back from the defeat against Derbyshire. I think the manner in which they did that demonstrates a lot about the character of the group.
“Worcestershire have played some really good cricket during this competition and they’re a very strong white ball outfit, so hopefully it will be a good game tomorrow.
“The goal is obviously to try and secure a home semi final. We need to win the two remaining games and hopefully the crowd can get behind us like they have throughout the competition again and play their part in helping us to beat Worcestershire. The players are desperate to put on a show for everyone in what is our last home group stage match.”
PLAYER MATCHUP – BROUGHT TO YOU BY COOPER ASSOCIATES
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 2019 for the classic List A match between between Somerset and Worcestershire.
The two sides met at New Road in the quarter final of the Royal London One Day Cup in an encounter which saw Somerset come out on top by 147 runs.
After losing the toss, Somerset were invited to bat first.
Tom Banton and Azhar Ali shared an opening stand of 66 before the Pakistani opener fell for 29. Banton and Peter Trego (37) then shared a third wicket stand of 115.
James Hildreth (38 from 26), George Bartlett (24 from 16) and Craig Overton (25* from 15) gave the innings impetus, but it was Banton who excelled, making 112 from 103 balls when no other batter reached the 40-mark.
The Worcestershire reply started poorly and the Overton twins combined to remove Riki Wessells for 16 in the sixth over, and when Brett D’Oliveira was bowled by Roelof van der Merwe the hosts were 81 for four in the 19th over.
The ball was eventually thrown to Azhar Ali and he subsequently secured a place on the Somerset bowlers honours board by taking five for 354 from seven overs as Worcestershire were dismissed for 190 with 12 overs to spare.
MATCH SPONSOR – CAIRNHILL
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NEXT MATCH
Our next match is on Sunday August 11th when we take on Middlesex at Lord’s in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Tickets for this match are still available.
