Warwickshire book a semi-final against Glamorgan, but Kai Smith’s century beats Jake Libby’s

Following a stunning debut List performance, Warwickshire will play Glamorgan in the Metro Bank One Day semi-finals on Sunday. At Edgbaston, they defeated Worcestershire by four wickets thanks to a century from Kai Smith.

With 286 to chase, Warwickshire struck 77 for 5, but Smith, whose previous best on the List A was 44, slammed an unbroken 130 from 104 balls, putting Warwickshire in serious difficulty.

The Bears reached 288 for 6 with six balls remaining thanks to a sixth-wicket stand of 181 in 163 balls between Smith and Will Rhodes (75).

Thanks to a superb century from Jake Libby, injury-ravaged Worcestershire, who had reached 286 for 9, suffered a heartbreaking reverse. In the Metro Bank One Day Cup this year, the captain, who was already the top run scorer in the country with 54, built on that foundation with a brilliant 112 from 115 balls.

Worcestershire had control after early wickets, but 19-year-old Smith batted with ease, freedom, and no sign of nervousness to guarantee his team a spot in the South Wales semi-final.

Opening pair for Worcestershire, Pollock and Gareth Roderick, put in 38 runs in ten overs on a used pitch before losing two wickets in five balls. Ed Barnard’s outstanding opening stint was rewarded when Rob Jones edged his second delivery behind and Roderick was trapped behind the stump by Rae.

Before slashing a drive at Jake Lintott to point, Pollock reached a 54-ball half-century against his former teammates, but he only added four more. After being released from Hundred duty, Adam Hose quickly sliced Michael Booth to extra cover, but Libby scored his sixth half-century of the competition (from 67 balls) and celebrated by hitting Barnard for six over mid-wicket.

As the pitch flattened out in the sunshine, Ethan Brookes and Tom Taylor provided crucial support for the captain, scoring 61 in ten overs and 28 in eighteen. Tom Hinley and Fateh Singh both got rid of the ropes to help Worcestershire reach a high score.

They also got off to a fast start with the ball, grabbing two wickets in the opening five overs when Taylor’s inswinger slashed Zen Malik’s off-stump after Theo Wylie had skidded Harry Darley to mid-off.

Before two significant wickets came in the 14th over, Barnard and Rhodes had brought the total to 50. Barnard hit Jack Home cleanly to midwicket with a flick. Michael Burgess went out after three balls when Brookes hit him straight.

Warwickshire were 77 for 5 when Benjamin edged a cut at Brookes, but Rhodes and Smith were unconcerned. Smith bounded to a maiden List while the former captain led the comeback. fifty years, and then 89 more to a brilliant tonne off.

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By the time Rhodes was wonderfully caught by a scrambling Brookes off a skier, the sixth-wicket partnership had placed their side in charge. With the Bears requiring 29 runs from the final four overs, Smith and Lintott calmly ended the match, with Smith hitting Taylor for six and four off back-to-back balls to secure the win.