NEW ZEALAND star Colin Munro is aiming to help Worcestershire to a first ever home T20 Blast quarter-final showdown after delivering with bat and ball against Derbyshire.
The hard hitting all-rounder, who has made 14 T20 International appearances for the Black Caps, produced his best display since signing for the county in April smashing 65 runs off 37 balls with two sixes and nine fours in the eight-run victory at the 3aaa County Ground on Friday.
Munro also delivered with the ball conceding just 30 runs in his allotted four overs as well as taking the crucial catch to dismiss Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen at a time when the match looked to be getting away from them.
The close win edged Worcestershire closer to making the quarter-final stages of the competition for just the fourth time in their history. In the three previous occasions Worcestershire have suffered knock-out heartbreak after defeats away at Surrey, Gloucestershire and Yorkshire.
Should top-of-the-table Worcestershire finish in the top two spots of the North Division they will guarantee themselves a home quarter-final tie against one of the South Division qualifiers at the beginning of August.
But Munro insisted there was still work to do before a knockout tie at New Road later in the summer becomes a reality.
“It’s nice to get a few wins, and a couple of close wins as well,” he said. “If it goes the other way, it is hard to get back into the tournament so we are sitting pretty well in the table now.
“If we can get another couple of wins or whatever it takes, and secure that home quarter-final, I think it will be the first time for the club so if we can do that, it would be brilliant.
“But we know there is still work to be done.”
Munro’s crucial knock of 65 was his highest score since signing for the club beating his previous best scores of 39 against Lancashire and 30 against Leicestershire.
“I’ve got a couple of starts which I’ve been happy and disappointed with,” he added.
“I haven’t sort of kicked on and got that score and it’s something I’ve been working on and this time I kicked on and got a decent score and contributed to a winning performance.”