Riki Wessels races to Rapids success
A brutal assault from Riki Wessels led an impressive run chase that swept Worcestershire Rapids to a four-wicket victory over Derbyshire Falcons and a home quarter-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup.
Wessels smashed 11 sixes in his 130 from 62 balls before Callum Ferguson’s perfectly-paced unbeaten 103 from 95 balls eased his side to their 352 target.
Luis Reece (128) and Wayne Madsen (113) put on 222 to lift the Falcons to 351 for nine but Wessels and Ferguson carried the visitors to 353 for six with 10 balls to spare.
Pat Brown had Billy Godleman caught behind in the first over but that was the Rapids’ last success for 31 overs as Madsen and Reece took the bowling apart as Derbyshire made 350.
It was still a tough chase but Wessels tore into the bowling, pulling Logan Van Beek for three sixes on his way to a 31-ball 50.
Tom Fell made 49 out of the opening stand of 152 before he played across Hughes and the Falcons finally got Wessels in the 23rd over when he pulled Critchley to wide long on where Van Beek took a running catch, but by then the die was cast.
