Khurram Shahzad delivered a brilliant new-ball spell to guide Worcestershire to a commanding 45-run win over Nottinghamshire in the Men’s Vitality Blast 2025 at New Road, Worcester on Thursday.
Brookes’ Blazing Fifty Powers Worcestershire Past 200
Batting first, Worcestershire posted an imposing 206/7 in their 20 overs — a total set up by a breathtaking cameo from Ethan Brookes, who hammered 57 off just 20 balls. His late-innings assault gave the hosts a massive boost.
Skipper Brett D’Oliveira held the innings together with a solid 46 off 36, while Kashif Ali (34) and Adam Hose (33) provided crucial contributions in the middle.
Nottinghamshire’s Chase Unravels Despite Moores’ Fight
Nottinghamshire looked in trouble early, losing both openers inside the powerplay. Although Tom Moores put up a valiant fight with a quickfire 57 off 29 balls, and Matthew Montgomery smashed 47 off 22, their efforts weren’t enough to carry the chase.
Moises Henriques chipped in with 18, but the innings lost steam as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 161 in 18.2 overs.
Shahzad Sets the Tone Early, Brookes and Allison Clean Up
Khurram Shahzad was electric with the new ball, dismissing both Joe Clarke and Freddie McCann to put Nottinghamshire on the back foot from the start.
From there, it was a clinical display. Ben Allison and Ethan Brookes each claimed three wickets, while Tom Taylor and Shahzad picked up two apiece. Worcestershire’s bowling unit never let the pressure drop.
Notts Bowlers Toil Despite Some Resistance
Earlier, Daniel Sams and Dillon Pennington were the standout bowlers for Nottinghamshire, taking three wickets each, but Worcestershire’s firepower with the bat proved too much. Liam Patterson-White grabbed one wicket but went for plenty.
Shahzad’s Rise Continues in English Conditions
For 25-year-old Khurram Shahzad, this was yet another impactful outing. He now has seven wickets from five matches in this year’s Vitality Blast, maintaining a respectable economy rate of 8.14.
With every game, he’s proving to be a valuable asset — not just for Worcestershire, but also catching the attention of fans and selectors back in Pakistan.
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