WORCESTERSHIRE seconds will bid to reach the final of the Second XI Trophy when they take on Middlesex at Radlett on Friday in their last-four encounter.

Coach Alex Gidman’s side qualified for the last four by finishing runners-up to Warwickshire in the North Division after winning four of their six games.

They will take on a Middlesex side who boasted a 100 per cent record from their South Division programme.

Ross Whiteley and Dillon Pennington, who played in the Royal London One-Day Cup North Group decider against Warwickshire a week ago, are both included in the side.

Whiteley spiked a knee when fielding in that game at Edgbaston while Pennington, who made his debut in the same match, is fit after missing the Seconds Championship game with Durham at Kidderminster.

Gidman said: “It should be an exciting game. We have done very well to reach the knockout stages and I’m pleased for the guys.

“They have played some fantastic cricket and deserve this opportunity to be in the semi-finals.

“You would expect the bigger clubs like Middlesex, who have a big squad, to get through to this stage but maybe that makes our achievement even better.

“We have played some trialists in the seconds but our Worcestershire lads deserve credit for the way they have embraced them into the squad.”

Worcestershire: Westbury, Rhodes, Fell, Whiteley, Imtiaz, Gibson, Dell, Twohig, Ul-Hassan, Pennington, Brown.