OPENING batters Gareth Roderick and Ed Pollock both hit centuries as Worcestershire launched their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with a comprehensive 183-run victory over Middlesex.

Roderick scored 115 in a first-wicket stand of 259, but his efforts were surpassed by Pollock, whose career-best 180 from 138 balls provided the backbone of a haul of 371 for three in the Group A fixture at New Road, which was reduced to 48 overs per side following a rain delay.

Pollock's impressive tally puts him in joint-second for the highest individual score for the county in List A cricket alongside former captain Tom Moody. Only Callum Ferguson's record of 192 is higher.

Just five Worcestershire batters would step onto the field by the time all 288 balls had been bowled. Rob Jones scored 44 from 42 balls, Ethan Brookes ran 10 from 5 before his ball was caught by Ethan Bamber, while captain Jake Libby scored 2 from 2 as Worcestershire closed out their inning.

Middlesex, who had won the toss and opted to field, never looked like chasing down the 372 required after losing top three Sam Robson, Joe Cracknell and Nathan Fernandes – who had earlier taken two for 79 – by the seventh over.

Indeed, captain Mark Stoneman’s 75 was the only contribution of note as they were bowled out for 188 in 25.4 overs with Harry Darley, Jack Home and Tommy Sturgess taking three wickets each.

Darley, Home and Sturgess were three of the six Worcestershire One Day Cup debuts, alongside Rehaan Edavalath, Tommy Hinley and Hishaam Khan.

This victory puts Worcestershire top of Group A thanks to their incredible net run rate of 3.813, ahead of Durham in second, who beat Lancashire by 57 runs, and Derbyshire, who beat Northamptonshire by just two wickets in a tense match.

Worcestershire will welcome Durham to New Road on Sunday (July 28) before travelling to Derbyshire on Friday, August 2.