DIRECTOR of cricket Steve Rhodes hailed Worcestershire’s record-breaking batting display when beating Lancashire by seven wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup at New Road.

Rhodes said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s the first time we’ve pulled off our batting plan exactly how we wanted.

“Ironically, it’s the first time we’ve chased runs as well in this competition so we are delighted to get there.

“A lot of hard work was done by Tom Fell and Daryl Mitchell originally and the two at the end there, Alexei Kervezee and Ross Whiteley, finished off a wonderful chase comfortably.”

Worcestershire bounced back in style from the six-wicket setback at Yorkshire in the cup.

Rhodes said: “I think the players believe in each other, though, and they’ve got a lot of confidence in each other.

“We had a real power batting unit against Lancashire when you consider Gareth Andrew, who has just got two hundreds in the second team, was about to come in.

“There was Ben Cox, who has gone well, and Joe Leach in nick so we’ve got quite a few power hitters towards the end of our innings. That’s going to hold us in good stead.”

On Whiteley, Rhodes added: “The way he can get it over the New Road stand is just incredible. But I was more pleased with the way he played the short ball.”

He was also full of praise for the wicket produced by head groundsman Tim Packwood.