Club Captain Joe Leach and Ed Barnard powered Worcestershire Rapids to a dramatic three wicket victory with a record-breaking seventh wicket stand against Kent Spitfires at New Road.
George Munsey’s maiden List A century had enabled Kent to set a demanding 324 target and he and Harry Finch’s partnership of 184 was a Kent List A record for anywicket against Worcestershire.
But Rapids opener Jack Haynes laid the foundations with a fine 77 and he received good support from Tom Fell before Leach’s late assault alongside excellent support from Barnard.
Leach and Barnard came together at 184-6 in the 34th over and their stand of 134 in 15.2 overs was a new Worcestershire record for the seventh wicket in all List A cricket.
Leach put the Spitfires into bat on a hybrid pitch and the move initially paid off.
Spitfires captain Ollie Robinson (13) was caught at cover off Charlie Morris and Heino Khun (19) was run out by Jake Libby’s direct hit from mid on.
Tawanda Muyeye (22) played back to spinner Josh Baker and was bowled but Scotland international Munsey and Harry Finch seized command for Kent.
Harry Finch was initially the more aggressive and reached his half century from 63 balls – 12 less than Munsey.
Munsey, who had scored 96 against Durham in the opening One-Day Cup game, gradually upped the tempo and required only another 33 balls in moving fifty to three figures.
Adam Finch broke the stand when he trapped his namesake lbw for 84 from 79 deliveries with one six and 10 fours working to leg.
Munsey’s superb knock came to end on 108 and he also went lbw attempting a reverse sweep against Ed Barnard. His 113 balls innings contained two sixes and 14 fours.
Darren Stevens hit a quickfire 23 and late order runs from Milnes and Marcus O’Riordan lifted the final total past 300.
When Worcestershire launched their reply, Haynes drove Stevens for two boundaries and Dell collected three fours in a Milnes over.
Dell, on 20, was caught at cover off Stevens but new batsman Fell and Haynes prospered.
Fell reeled off a succession of impressive strokes and Haynes also looked in good touch although he had one left off on 23 to Henry Finch off Matt Quinn.
He completed a 51 ball fifty and Haynes followed him to his half century from the next delivery, the 61st he had faced.
The second wicket pair added 94 when Fell was caught behind off Grant Stewart for 57 with two sixes and six fours.
Jake Libby, on 17, fell to a smart catch at backward point off Matt Quinn and
Haynes top edged a catch to backward square leg off James Logan who played for Worcestershire Seconds earlier this season.
Gareth Roderick and debutant Jacques Banton fell cheaply but then came the heroics from Leach and Barnard who finished unbeaten on 39 from 46 balls.
Jack Haynes, who scored 77 for Worcestershire said, “It was certainly a thrilling start to our campaign and a great chase to finish off a pretty exciting day’s cricket.
“The knock by the captain (Joe Leach) was probably one of the best knocks I’ve seen live to be honest.
“There was some seriously clean ball striking and he has led with the front as captain, both with the ball and the bat there.
“Myself, it is always disappointing not to go on (and score a hundred) but I thought Felly played brilliantly as well and we seemed to dovetail quite well together.
“We always talk about being positive and aggressive and it was nice to set a platform for Joe to come in and finish it off.
“It was a great wicket and these days in 50 over cricket you are looking at scores of 300 to 320 as par on good decks like that.”
Kent century-maker George Munsey: “It is a pretty hard one (the result) to take if I’m honest.
“I thought we did pretty well throughout the whole game and the innings by Joe Leach at the end there took it away from us. Fair credit to him.
“It is always nice to score a few runs but we play this game to win and it’s always disappointing when you can’t quite get the team to a position where you can win.
“There were some fine margins today. There were definitely things we could have done better but at the same time I don’t think we were too horrendous.
“I just thought it was a pretty special knock from Joe (Leach) and he really had to come out and have a world beating sort of knock and he certainly did that.
“We will go back, we will look at it and come together as a team and se eif there is anything we can do better for next time. That is the key for all these tournaments.”