WORCESTERSHIRE’S director of cricket Steve Rhodes has backed Tom Kohler-Cadmore to kick on after his “special” match-winning NatWest T20 Blast display against Durham Jets.

The former Malvern College pupil hit a sensational 127 from 54 balls as Worcestershire Rapids opened their campaign with a 38-run victory.

It was the highest score by a Worcestershire batsman in domestic T20 cricket, beating Graeme Hick’s 116 not out against Northamptonshire at Luton in 2004.

The 21-year-old reached his hundred in just 43 balls and only Ben Smith has registered a quicker century for Worcestershire.

“Tom’s innings was very special and he struck a couple of sixes straight into New Road, which were magnificent,” said Rhodes.

“He can hit a beautiful straight ball and he also fielded extremely well, taking three good catches on the boundary.

“If you look at the direction of a lot of his sixes, they were very straight and that’s nice to see because sometimes he can drag it a little bit and get into trouble.”

Kohler-Cadmore, who struck 14 fours and eight sixes, helped Worcestershire to an imposing 225-6 in their North Group curtain-raiser.

Rhodes said: “Ben got a 42-ball hundred against Glamorgan, which was an amazing effort, but Tom’s was very special.

“He has been a little bit stop-start and built some confidence at the end of last year.

“He’s built on that and had a good winter abroad and now he’s done this in a Twenty20 game it will give him a lot of confidence going forward.

“Let’s see if he can repeat this form in the season and I know he’s desperate to do it and if he does, he will have a good summer.

“But he’s got a few other tricks up his sleeve. I won’t tell people what they are but he’s pretty much an all-round player.”

Brett D’Oliveira’s unbeaten 39 and Joe Leach’s 14 not out kept up the momentum, while Leach shone with the ball, finishing with a career-best 5-33 as Durham closed on 187-8.

Rhodes said: “A couple of individual efforts were fantastic and there were some cameos as well – Brett’s innings was terrific.

“Leach bowled well and he seemed to pick up a wicket every over, which was terrific.

“These things don’t just happen by chance or by luck. It doesn’t come naturally and you have to practise it and they do that.”

Rapids return to T20 action when they make the short trip to face Midlands rivals Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston on Friday.

“We could have been a bit better in the field for what is a very good fielding side but I was quite pleased with the way we played,” admitted Rhodes.

“Durham were a little bit under-strength and desperately missed John Hastings, who has been a really important part of their T20 campaign in previous years, but we have got off to a good start and that’s what we wanted. We are off and running in this competition.

“It was nice to get such a big total without the likes of Clarkie (Joe Clarke), Ross Whiteley and Mitchell Santner and we will save their runs hopefully for the match at Edgbaston.”

Rhodes added: “Last year, we lost to Warwickshire in the first game and managed to dominate the group. It’s a good start and we will try to back it up. We need to get into the quarter-finals.”