Worcestershire secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup title in thrilling fashion as Hampshire suffered final heartache for the second successive Saturday.
Chasing a revised 188 from 27 overs to win a rain-affected game at Trent Bridge, Worcestershire triumphed by three wickets on DLS with two balls to spare when Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott fell on to the boundary cushion after catching Henry Cullen.
Abbott’s error at deep backward square, which occurred with the Rapids needing four from three deliveries, came after excellent cameos with the bat from Ethan Brookes (57 off 34) and Matthew Waite (16no off five).
The victory was an emotional one for Worcestershire following the death of 20-year-old spinner Josh Baker in May 2024, with the players dedicating their victory to him.
Worcestershire Rapids’ Henry Cullen and Matthew Waite celebrate victory over Hampshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup final
Hampshire, beaten by Somerset in last weekend’s Vitality Blast final at Edgbaston, saw Scott Currie (5-34 from six overs) take a five-wicket haul and Ali Orr (130 off 110) hit a century in a losing cause – Orr’s knock underpinning his side’s 237-5 from 45 overs.
Currie – released from the England T20 squad in Ireland in order to play – took three wickets in the penultimate over, including that of Brookes.
Scott Currie took five wickets in a losing cause for Hampshire
But Waite clubbed his first ball for six and then cleared the ropes again in the final over which began with Worcestershire requiring 13 from six deliveries.
The title, Worcestershire’s first in 50-over cricket since 1994, comes days after their relegation from County Championship Division One was confirmed.
Ali Orr hit a hundred for Hampshire at Trent Bridge
Hampshire will now turn their attentions to securing red-ball safety with the south-coast side one place and two points above Durham, who sit in the second and final relegation spot ahead of the final round of fixtures from Wednesday.
Hampshire host title-chasing Surrey, with the visitors needing a win to stand a chance of leapfrogging table-toppers Nottinghamshire.
