Surrey’s Metro Bank One Day campaign ended with a six-wicket defeat at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Release by the Oval Invincibles to play for the Three Feathers, Gus Atkinson top-scored for the visitors with 60, but Worcestershire’s bowlers took wickets with frequency to restrict their opponents to 266-6.
In reply, 19-year-old Dan Lategan registered a maiden List A fifty at the top of the order for the Rapids, before Kashif Ali (80) propelled the home side into pole position.
Skipper Jake Libby’s unbeaten half-century steered Worcestershire to a comfortable win, as the Rapids secured top spot in Group A and now wait to learn who they will face in Sunday’s semi-final.
Tom Taylor made an early in-road as he bowled Adam Thomas in his third over of the morning, with a full ball that angled back in and rattled into off stump providing the home side with the ideal start.
Ben Foakes joined Rory Burns at the crease as the former England duo looked to steer Surrey back into the contest, but Foakes’ cameo was short-lived as he departed for just six.
Ben Gibbon impressed with an economical spell either side of a brief rain delay, that included the scalp of Burns, who looked impressive on his way to 43 before losing his wicket when he dragged a length ball straight to Rob Jones at short mid-wicket.
Ollie Sykes (36) and Josh Blake (43) both looked to be the batters to kick on, but Tom Taylor (2-59) first dismissed the Surrey skipper, before Fateh Singh trapped Blake LBW to reduce the visitors to 160-5.
Making only his third List A appearance for the club, England star Gus Atkinson showed why his batting capabilities have earnt him a Test match century, as he struck nine boundaries in his 48-ball-60 that took his side up towards 250 in the face of some disciplined Worcestershire bowling.
Khurram picked up his second wicket as he removed Atkinson to stall the visitors once more, but some lusty blows from Nikhil Gorantla saw the away side finish their 49 overs 266-6.
Having last met in List A cricket back in 2017, Brett D’Oliveira and rising star Dan Lategan catapulted the hosts to a flying start, with D’Oliveira making an enterprising 45 as the pair added 83 for the first wicket.
Lategan continued in the wake of his opening partner’s dismissal, recording his maiden List A half-century from 45 balls, but the 19-year-old could only add four more before he was bowled by Sykes.
Kashif Ali showed no signs of slowing, making a typically explosive start to his innings by racing to 34, as Worcestershire passed 150 in the 21st over.
Captain Jake Libby, averaging 62 in this year’s competition as he made his way to the middle, helped guide the Rapids beyond 200 despite losing Kashif in the process for an exhilarating 80 from 58 balls, when the number three was caught in the deep looking to clear the boundary.
Yousef Majid (2-57) returned the best figures for Surrey on a tough day for the bowling unit.
With the required run rate dropping below two-an-over, Libby guided his side to victory as he finished unbeaten on 53, seeing the Rapids through to a home semi-final this Sunday.
