WORCESTERSHIRE'S NatWest victory over Gloucestershire was a big game for the County in more ways than one.

That they were beating a side unbeaten for two years over the longer distance of 50 overs and that it repeated the result of the day-night match the previous Wednesday and that it happened without such an obvious contribution from Glenn McGrath, were all significant details.

However, the most significant fact of all was that the major contribution should come from one of Worcestershire's younger generation.

Experience is supposed to make you wiser, and losing hungrier to succeed, but I'm not convinced. To experience winning is a different matter.

As a batsman, being there to see it through to the death, gives you a taste of something which you don't lose - the certain knowledge that you can do it and all the confidence that goes with the knowledge.

Ryan Driver's innings, which won the match against Gloucestershire, has given him that invaluable knowledge and confidence, while granting Worcestershire a rather longer run in the competition than they have enjoyed in recent years.

Batting (and bowling) towards the end of a limited overs match is one of the great pressure situations in sport. Lurking all the time is the terrible thought: 'What if we lose and I'm responsible.'

By not being there at the end or not bowling those final overs you can avoid that responsibility; by being there you prove something. By being there and winning you prove an awful lot and especially to yourself. What would Phil Neville give for such a feeling right now?

Ryan came in with four wickets down including the prized ones of Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki. I remember a semi-final in the Benson & Hedges in 1994 when Hampshire were stunned to lose a game to Worcestershire having dismissed the bug guns of Hick and Tom Moody relatively cheaply.

On that occasion Gavin Haynes and David Leatherdale were the young guns who took the responsibility and won the game.

Here in 2000, Leatherdale was again a vital factor. His fluency ensured the target never got out of reach and confirmed the vital contribution that he has been making in Worcestershire's recent good run.

Then there was the old stager, Richard Illingworth, who has always been a wonderfully effective batsman in one-day situations. He has a steady nerve, Richard, never better illustrated when he is holing out from short range on the golf course to take the money!

Technically, he is brilliant at getting bat on ball and working it away into the gaps. Few balls go by without being scored off and that is the secret of this form of cricket.

"Reverse the pressure" is Illy's favourite saying and by scoring off most balls you do exactly that. The bowler strives for something different rather than the batsman feeling the need to go for big shots.

So Ryan could wish for no-one better to guide him through the final overs than Illy.

With Reuben Spiring continuing to struggle with knee problems and Gavin Haynes a couple of weeks away from full fitness, there is a great opportunity for the tall left-hander to continue his successful run in the side.

Saturday will have seen him up against another left-hander who had success at youth level before going off the boil for a while in county championship cricket, Marcus Trescothick.

Trescothick is now 24, enjoying a fine season and stands on the verge of international recognition.

Ryan Driver is just 21 and at an age where international careers should be starting, rather then appetites being sated at County level.

I, for one, hope that the youngster presses on from his good start this year and that special, winning knock in particular.

Monday, June 26, 2000.