FORMER Worcestershire captain Gareth Batty has hit back at a “few idiots” who booed him in Surrey’s Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final at New Road.

Batty snapped up 5-40 – his best-ever haul in the competition – as Surrey thrashed his former county by 153 runs to book their place in the final for the third year in succession.

Asked about the banter from the crowd, Batty replied: "What sort of banter?

“You heard it, a few idiots on the boundary.

"They will go home and to work and I will have a day off with my daughter and probably have another day off as well.

"I hope they think about that and we are playing in a final at Lord's which they will never do."

Batty removed Joe Clarke, Brett D’Oliveira, John Hastings, Ben Cox and Joe Leach.

He whooped with delight as he celebrated his wickets in the middle.

Batty added: "Every time we win and particular when there is a bit of banter flying around, you just want to show people that things can change and people do change.

"It was nice, I'm not going to lie, but it's not going to change my life.

“I go back home to my daughter and that's the best thing that will happen to me.”