Worcester buckle under pressure after Adams’ skilful century wins it for Sussex

Sussex (250/5) beat Worcester (221 all out) by 29 runs

Photo credit: Sussex Cricket

Match winning contributions from Mollie Adams (104 not out) and Anna Buckle (5 for 27) gave Sussex a well-deserved victory at New Road after Worcestershire failed to capitalise on a good start to both innings.

It was a splendid day enjoying the delights of Tier 2 at Visit Worcester New Road, without doubt one of the most beautiful grounds in the world. The regular chimes of the Cathedral clock punctuated the unfolding of a fascinating day’s play.

There is no typical Tier 2 player – all seemed to have arrived here by various (sometimes circuitous) routes. 30 year old Gwen Davies is a veteran of the KSL, the Hundred and the regional system who walked away from professional cricket in 2022 to focus on her teaching career. Tier 2 Worcester are giving her the chance to relive the good old days and use her vast experience to bolster this young team.

18 year old Molly Adams is cricketing aristocracy, her father and older sister both played for Sussex and have been capped by England. It seems that this young player is also destined for the very top and Tier 2 Sussex is just the right fit for this step in her journey.

19 year old Amy Wheeler is a fiery fast bowler, full of raw talent and huge potential. She is part of the Blaze Academy in Nottinghamshire and has been sent to Worcestershire to gain some experience and hone her skills.

These players, alongside many others who have come through the academies of professional teams and not quite made it, or have spent years playing for enjoyment in the old county system, found themselves at New Road, playing in front of about 150 people: family, friends, Worcester members, boys and girls, mums and dads, groups of friends and people on their own, basking in the glory of a Summer’s day at Worcester.

Sussex, asked to bat by Chloe Hill at the toss on a bright and warm morning, began cautiously, with Mollie Adams playing a very defensive game for the first 10 overs alongside Phoebe Wilkinson. Adams only contributed 7 of the 45 runs scored in the powerplay, although Sussex’s cause was greatly aided by the 19 extras Worcester conceded in that time, including a head high lightning fast beamer bowled by Amy Wheeler in her second ball of the day, which could have caused some serious damage had the batter not evaded it. Wheeler is a very rapid bowler, generating the sort of pace unfamiliar to many of these players. She is capable of some brilliant deliveries, but in common with many players at this level, lacks the consistency needed to be fully effective. As regularly as she beat the outside edge, she also drifted down the leg side, testing Chloe Hill’s goalkeeper-style dives to the full.

As the morning progressed, so did Sussex’s run rate. Mollie Adams, so cautious at the start of the innings, became more expansive, and more importantly, remained solid and chanceless as Wilkinson, Collis, King and Green departed after each providing a useful contribution around the confident and ever more assertive Adams. As a result, Sussex’s 88/1 at the half way stage accelerated to an impressive 250/5 at the end of 50 overs. Adams beautifully timed her century, playing with increasing maturity and authority, achieving three figures in the 49th over. Worcester will have been disappointed to have allowed their opponents to accumulate such a total, due in no small part to some poor fielding. Phoebe Brett, in particular, despite being tidy and economical in her bowling, will not want to re-watch the mis-fields and dropped catches she was guilty of throughout the innings. Nor will Amy Wheeler be too pleased with having to be withdrawn from the attack midway through her eighth over when she delivered a second dangerous no ball. 

Worcestershire’s reply was exactly as assured and confident as you would expect from a team who have front-stacked their batting line up with experience. Boycott, Davies and Hill expertly guided The Pears to 93/1 after 17 overs, the sort of platform that ought to produce a comfortable victory. Gwen Davies was particularly impressive. The diminutive left-hander punching nine fours to all corners of the ground as she scored a half century. 

For Sussex, it was Anna Buckle, the 22 year old pace bowler (and international relations graduate), who had made the most impact in the powerplay, clean bowling Boycott with the first delivery of her spell in the 9th over. And Sussex began to apply pressure on Worcestershire when Chiara Green brought herself on to bowl, exploiting some low bounce at the New Road end, she bowled first Chloe Hill then Gwen Davies with balls that barely got off the ground, leaving Worcester on 100 for 3 after 20 overs and giving Bryony Gillgrass and Ruby Davis the job of completing the work begun by their senior players. 

Worcestershire sped along at six an over for the next ten overs, however Gillgrass and Davis both departed lbw after making useful contributions. It left Worcester with 90 runs to get from the last 20 overs, but with only five wickets remaining. 

Amy Wheeler came in with a strategy of reducing the runs deficit as quickly as possible. She played some fine shots, including a huge six over the scoreboard at square leg. With 12 overs to go, only 48 runs were needed and Worcester looked very likely winners. Then Anna Buckle returned. Just as she had done with her first spell, she struck immediately, bowling Wheeler with her first delivery and then two balls later, she clean bowled Emily Churms. In a matter of three deliveries, the match was turned on its head. Daisy Gibb, Sussex’s young fast bowler then removed Phoebe Brett for a deserved second wicket, leaving it for Buckle to dismiss first Beech and then Beach, again clean bowled, to complete Sussex’s victory and her own five wicket haul.

Tier 2 clearly does provide some mis-matches, but this game showcased the best of what it has to offer: two well-matched teams, some match-winning performances and some names to watch out for in the future: Mollie Adams and Anna Buckle – expect to see them in Hampshire colours and playing in Tier 1 before the season is out.