Teenage sensation Dan Lategan’s extraordinary run of form in the Metro Bank One Day Cup continued in Sunday’s semi-final victory over Somerset, as his scintillating 78 powered the Rapids to a dominant 131-run win and booked the home side into a first List A final since 2004.
Impressing at the start of the tournament with starts against Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, the 19-year-old followed it up with a maiden List A fifty in the sides final group game against Surrey.
With the pressure cranked up at Visit Worcestershire New Road and fans full of anticipation for Sunday’s blockbuster shootout, Lategan cracked a second successive fifty to kickstart his side’s innings as they dug their way out of a mid innings blip to amass 275-9.
A proficient bowling performance despite the best efforts of the rain, saw the Rapids run out 131-run victors, with Lategan ecstatic with the result.
“That was amazing. I couldn’t be happier.
“We thought at halfway we had a good enough total if we bowled well. It was a bit tough early on with a bit of movement like we know there always is at New Road but we started off really well.
“I tried my best and then, with a few wickets falling, tried to keep my head and take less risks. I was disappointed to get out but then the guys down the order got us up to a good score.
“We would have liked closer to 300 but we were very confident and I think that showed in the powerplay when we came out with lots of energy. It was an amazing spell just before the rain came when we kept taking wickets.
“Somerset bat deep so after every wicket we said we know there is more talent coming in so let’s keep our energy and keep taking wickets.
