Worcestershire travelled to the picturesque ground of Eastnor on Tuesday, to face Herefordshire in their National Counties Showcase match, beginning preparations for the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
With the group stage commencing on Thursday in the shape of a trip to Nottingham, Jake Libby confirmed at the toss that his side would be batting first, with youngster Henry Hawes coming into the side in place of Jack Home, who had been called into the Birmingham Phoenix squad in preparation for the Hundred at short notice.
It was Rehaan Edavaltah and Isaac Mohammed who opened proceedings for the visitors, settling into their stride almost immediately as they started with gusto.
The pair blitzed the Herefordshire bowlers, with the small boundary square of the wicket found with ease by the promising Isaac, who shifted through the gears in a clinical nature.
The 17-year-old displayed his exciting range of shot selections in an eye-catching 55 ball 51, as he and partner Edavalath added 113 for the first wicket in just under 16 overs.
Edavalath, went about his business in similar fashion, impressing with his temperament at the top of the order and classy stroke play down the ground as he too made his way to a fine half-century, striking 10 boundaries in the process.
Isaac’s dismissal shortly after reaching fifty was met with a warm applause by the travelling Worcestershire supporters around the ground, with anticipation building ahead of what promises to be an exciting tournament for the Rapids if their top-order batters can continue their positive form.
Edavalath was caught for 52, as new man Rob Jones was joined by skipper, Jake Libby.
The pair began with ease, rotating the strike frequently and easing the ball around from the Herefordshire spinners who looked to make further inroads during the middle overs.
Libby began to express himself, extending his outstanding recent form in the Rothesay County Championship with some glorious drives down the ground, as he and Jones reached their fifty partnership with ease.
Jones, also looking to continue his impressive form, on the back of a hundred for the 2nd XI just last week, took a liking to the spinners in his excellent cameo of 76, adding 161 for the third wicket.
Jones was eventually out caught, but Libby made no mistake in chalking up his third hundred in three innings, making a cultured 106 from just 76 balls.
Youngster Dan Lategan made an instant impression with a blistering 42 from just 26 balls, launching four sixes into the surrounding vicinities as the Rapids headed past 350.