Callum Ferguson 192 leads Worcestershire home in record Royal London Cup win

Callum Ferguson had a debut to remember for Worcestershire as he scored 192 in a record-breaking six-wicket over Leicestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup at Blackfinch New Road.

The Australian batsman was drafted in by the Rapids as a replacement for compatriot Travis Head after his earlier-than-expected call-up into his country's ODI squad to face England. Ferguson responded by smashing his runs from just 143 balls with five sixes and 21 fours as table-topping Worcestershire overhauled Leicestershire's imposing 376 for 4 with 16 deliveries to spare.

It was Worcestershire's highest individual List A score, beating Tom Moody's 180 against Surrey in the 1994 NatWest Trophy semi-final at The Oval.

Ferguson produced an awesome display of hitting but received excellent support from Joe Clarke, Daryl Mitchell and Brett D'Oliveira in securing a fourth win in five matches in the competition. There were just seven needed when he was caught behind off Varun Aaron and he left the ground to handshakes from many of the Leicestershire players and a standing ovation.

The Worcestershire total was their highest ever in 50-over cricket against first-class opposition, surpassing the 361 for 8 made against Leicestershire in the same competition last summer at the Fischer County Ground.

Leicestershire's own total was their highest in List A cricket against a first-class county, overhauling their 363 for 7 in 2017 versus visiting Warwickshire. But Ferguson and his team-mates made mincemeat of their target as they took another big step towards securing a place in the knockout stages.

Cameron Delport struck early sixes off Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach and his new ball partner Charlie Morris and, although he departed soon afterwards when bowled by Ed Barnard for 20, his aggression set the tone for the innings.

Ben Raine was promoted up the order to join Horton and it was a move that paid dividends during a second wicket stand of 131 in 20 overs. It was the highest partnership by Leicestershire for any wicket against Worcestershire in List A cricket, surpassing the opening stand of 129 by Trevor Ward and Virender Sehwag at Oakham School in 2003.

The pair kept pace with each other as Horton's half-century came off 44 balls and Raine needed only two more to reach his maiden fifty in white-ball cricket. It needed the return of Barnard to make a breakthrough as Raine perished at short midwicket.

Moeen Ali then had Horton caught behind as he attempted to cut, but Mark Cosgrove and Colin Ackermann ensured Leicestershire maintained their momentum during another century stand.

Cosgrove raced to a 39 ball fifty and the hundred partnership occupied just 66 deliveries. The Australian batsman provided Barnard with his third success of the innings when turning the ball into the hands of backward square leg, but Ackermann and Tom Wells continued to blaze away until the end of the innings.

Worcestershire suffered an early blow in reply when England allrounder Moeen was caught at point off Raine for a duck. But Clarke and Ferguson were soon into their stride and peppered the boundary as they added 140 in 20 overs.

Ferguson bristled with attacking intent from the start and collected three boundaries in an over from Aaron. Clarke was just as aggressive and had just lofted his third six when he holed out to deep midwicket off Ackermann.

Mitchell, a century-maker against Lancashire on Sunday, continued his fine form in a stand of 88 with Ferguson. He raced to his 50 off 29 balls before clipping Neil Dexter to deep midwicket. But Ferguson continued on his way, reaching his hundred off 87 balls with two sixes and 12 fours,

D'Oliveira gave him further admirable support in a 137 stand as Worcestershire stormed over the finishing line.