WORCESTERSHIRE coach Alan Richardson has praised the contribution of paceman Charlie Morris to Rapids' Royal London One-Day Cup run to the knockouts.

The County entertain Somerset at Blackfinch New Road in the quarter-finals on Friday (11am) after finishing second in the North Group.

And Richardson believes the Hereford-born bowler has been the County’s most consistent performer so far this season.

Morris' hard work in the winter began to pay off with a career-best 7-45 in the County Championship Division Two opening win at Leicestershire.

That has been followed up with a knack of picking up wickets in the initial powerplay during the 50-over competition.

Richardson says Morris is a role model for the club's crop of young pace bowlers.

He said: “Charlie has been exceptional.

"He has generally picked up an early wicket every time and that has been a real reward for him, hitting really good lines and lengths, making the batsman play.

“He bangs the drum of keeping it really simple and has done it brilliantly.

“It’s one thing talking about it and another thing executing it and he is picking up his rewards.

“Charlie is the type of character who is constantly searching for perfection which is one of his huge assets.

“He is constantly trying to get better, to evolve and make sure he is hitting his straps. He worked so hard in the winter that he hit the ground running.

“Charlie has been our most consistent performer with bat or ball the whole way through since we’ve been outside (training and playing).

“That has been shown in our performances so far.

“He puts in an amazing amount of work and thought about how he is going to go about his work. He has learnt that through time.”

Richardson says the likes of Josh Tongue, Pat Brown, Dillon Pennington, Adam Finch and George Scrimshaw will have all learnt from Morris' example.

He continued: “Charlie is a great example to the younger players — a great role model.

“We haven’t got the oldest bowling attack in the world but the guys who are experienced are really good role models and they all have their own attributes.

“Mozza will always talk to the younger guys about how thorough he is in his preparation.”

The winners of Friday’s fixture between Rapids and Somerset will take on Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge in the semi-finals on Sunday.

The quarter-final opponents last met in the one-day cup knockouts in 2016 when Somerset won by nine wickets at Taunton despite 81 from Moeen Ali and 64 from Daryl Mitchell.

Somerset sealed third spot in the South Group after Tuesday's five-wicket victory over Surrey.

They won five of their eight games while Rapids triumphed in six to finish runners-up behind Notts Outlaws in the North.

Meanwhile, Callum Lea and trialist Josh Breed led a Worcestershire recovery with the bat against a strong Warwickshire side on day one of the Second XI Championship meeting at Barnt Green.

The pair came together at 101-6 after the hosts elected to bat and put on 105 in 27 overs.

Lea made 78 off 119 balls and Breed 59 from 104.

Brinder Phagura and Ari Karvelas added 41 for the 10th wicket as the County were bowled out for 277 in 77.4 overs for three batting bonus points.

Ex-Leicestershire and Sussex batsman Angus Robson made 21 at number three and club captain Joe Leach added a quick 29.

In reply, openers Will Rhodes (51 not out) and Dominic Sibley (35) put on 93 before the latter was lbw to Adam Finch.

Leach bowled nine overs for 21 runs as Warwickshire closed on 98-1 from 26 overs.

Heavy overnight rain left the ground saturated and play was abandoned for the second day during the early morning.