WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes praised Alexei Kervezee’s “maturity with the bat”.

Kervezee has seized his opportunity after New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner broke his finger.

He finished unbeaten on 37 from 50 balls as the Rapids raced to a seven-wicket win at Durham Jets in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

An unbroken stand of 60 in 12.5 overs between Kervezee and Brett D’Oliveira (20 not out) saw them home after they dismissed Durham for just 90.

The ex-Dutch international should retain his place in Wednesday’s one-day cup clash against Leicestershire Foxes at New Road (11am).

Rhodes said: “Chris Rushworth bowled really well for Durham but Brett and Alexei played really well to see him off and then score the runs off the other bowlers.

“It was quite clever batting but a wonderful partnership towards the end to win the game for us.

“Alexei has come on in leaps and bounds in his maturity now with the bat in chasing down scores but also Dolly plays a major role in getting those scores, just like Ben Cox did the other day. He seems to have a cool head.”

D’Oliveira (2-9), stand-in captain Joe Leach (2-18), Ed Barnard (2-18), Chris Russell (2-23) and Jack Shantry (1-22) all bowled well for Rapids in a match reduced to 22 overs-a-side due to rain.

Rhodes said: “I was delighted with the win. We were all amazed by the amount of overs we lost in the day to the weather.

“We thought we’d have a reduced game but didn’t think it would be down to 22 overs.

“We made the best of it. It was quite greasy when we were fielding but we bowled and fielded well and kept them to a total that was low enough for us to get because it was a difficult wicket.

“Bowling-wise, Jack and Joe set off OK and really got them behind the rate of what they wanted. Then Ed came on and bowled really well.

“Chris and Dolly backed that up, so it was a good all-round bowling display but also in the field we were quite aggressive and attacked the ball. When the chances came, we took them.”

Rapids have won their last two matches without injured skipper Daryl Mitchell and overseas star Matt Henry.