A breakthrough performance led Worcestershire to a crucial win in the County Championship.
Dan Lategan, aged 19, struck a maiden first-class century as Worcestershire chased down 279 to defeat Gloucestershire by eight wickets on the final day at the College Ground.
Lategan scored 144 off 163 balls, including 22 boundaries, in a composed and dominant innings that anchored the run chase.
He said: "We said in changing room that was an amazing team effort.
"All 11 contributed and it’s just a great feeling to get over the line with such a nice chase there at the end.
"He (Jake) is obviously much more experienced than me and he talked me through it perfectly, especially in those nervous nineties, he was really trying to encourage me and he really got me through that.
"I didn’t know if it’d ever come to be honest, but I was really pleased.
"It was an amazing, amazing feeling.
"I thought Jake could just keep playing his game and trust his shots and his gameplay.
"I thought I would try to take the game on a little bit more, try and ease the pressure for the back end with the chase and luckily it did it did pay off.
"And then him being not at the end, getting the team over the line was a great effort from Jake."
Lategan’s partnership with vice-captain Jake Libby was worth 244 runs and set up a comprehensive win that keeps Worcestershire’s promotion hopes alive.
Libby finished with his fifth century of the summer, while Brett D’Oliveira’s first-innings 83 also proved valuable.
Contributions came from across the team.
Beyers Swanepoel took six wickets in the match, while Ben Allison claimed career-best figures of 5-19.
Lategan was also full of praise for close friend and injury replacement Rehaan Edavalath, who made a mature half-century.
He said: "It’s a really big win and like I said, everyone contributed.
"Benny getting a career-best fifer was a big part of the win too everyone chipped in, it was just an amazing week for the boys.
"Rehaan’s innings was an amazing one to watch, especially coming in as a substitute, it’s not always easy to come into the game late.
"But honestly it was an amazing innings to watch, and he definitely is a massive contributor."
The victory comes after a difficult third day and a fourth morning dominated by Gloucestershire’s batters, leaving Worcestershire with an uphill task.
However, the visitors backed themselves to chase in the fourth innings on a surface that had slowed and settled.
With this win, Worcestershire kept their promotion ambitions firmly on track in the County Championship.
Share