England's batsman breaks List A batting average record, surpassing India's Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Worcestershire's captain, Jake Libby, has etched his name in the record books by surpassing India's Ruturaj Gaikwad to achieve the highest List A batting average in history. This milestone was reached following his remarkable unbeaten innings of 109 against Sussex on August 7, marking his third consecutive century, all scored at the same total. With this performance, Libby elevated his batting average to an impressive 61.4, having accumulated 2,456 runs in List A cricket, which includes six centuries and 18 fifties across 56 matches.

In a thrilling encounter, Worcestershire faced a daunting target of 334 runs set by Sussex, who posted a total of 333 for 9 in their allotted overs. The Sussex innings featured notable contributions, with Fynn Hudson-Prentice leading the charge with a brisk 68 runs off just 35 balls, while Jack Leaning added a steady 50. Several other Sussex players also made significant contributions, ensuring a competitive total. However, it was Libby's performance that stole the spotlight as he guided his team to victory with a composed innings of 109 runs off 96 balls.

Worcestershire's chase began positively, with openers Isaac Mohammed and Brett D'Oliveira putting together a solid partnership of 60 runs. Unfortunately, both were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Libby to anchor the innings with 251 runs still required from 210 balls. He took charge of the run chase, receiving crucial support from Kashif Ali, who scored 73 runs off 52 balls, and Ben Allison, who contributed a quickfire 20 runs from just nine deliveries. Their combined efforts propelled Worcestershire to a thrilling victory in the penultimate over.

With his latest century, Libby not only secured the win for his team but also set a new benchmark in List A cricket, raising his average above Gaikwad's previous record of 58.61. Currently, Libby stands as the leading batsman in this format, with a total of 2,456 runs, six centuries, and 18 fifties, his highest score being an unbeaten 126. Following him in the rankings is Sam Hain, who holds an average of 58.18, with cricketing legends such as Michael Bevan, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Shubman Gill trailing behind.