Sussex young guns beat Worcestershire in Royal London Cup

Three of their young players, spin duo James Coles and Archie Lenham plus centurion Ali Orr, played key roles in a tense two wicket success over Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.

Coles and Lenham, both aged 17, picked up three wickets apiece as Worcestershire were restricted to 233-9 after opting to bat on a used pitch.

Then Orr, 22, followed up his maiden County Championship century against Kent last month with a superb hundred in only his third List A innings.

He paced his knock perfectly, taking 93 balls to reach his fifty but only another 35 to get to three figures with four sixes and six.

Sussex were cruising at 160-1 but a late collapse meant they still needed seven from the final over but Travis Head, with 38 not out, settled matters by smashing the third ball from Josh Baker for six over long on.

A third successive defeat was a blow to the Rapids hopes of reaching the knockout stages after winning the opening three games.

They were on the back foot after Brett D’Oliveira (11) was run out by Sussex skipper Tom Haines direct hit at the non striker’s from widish mid-on.

Jack Haynes on 24 was caught behind in Coles’ first over and then Lenham came into the attack and struck in each of his first three overs.

Tom Fell (29) was bowled by a fine delivery before Lenham held onto a return catch from Gareth Roderick (0) while Ed Barnard (7) dragged a ball onto his stumps.

Coles turned the screwand Joe Leach, 12, was lbw after sweeping and in his next over Libby, having made 40 off 58 balls, was also trapped in front after working to leg.

Worcestershire were then 137-7 in the 34th over and the combined efforts of spinners Coles, Lenham and Will Beer produced figures of 30-0-110-6.

Jacques Banton, younger brother of England ODI and T2OI player Tom Banton, showed his potential as part of a fightback with the lower order.

He struck Lenham for a straight six in his final over and was given good support by Josh Baker in a partnership of 40.

Baker (16) holed out to wide long off against Crocombe but Banton went onto make 33 from 41 balls before he was caught behind from a leading edge.