Dillon Pennington hoping to be selected for Worcestershire's semi-final against Kent

The Shropshire all-rounder has played for England in the Under-19 World Cup, signed his first professional contract for the Pears and made his first-team debut for Worcestershire in their nail-biting final group match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Now former Wrekin College student Pennington, who plays for Shrewsbury in the Birmingham League, would dearly love to add to that list by playing in front of a full house in the last-four clash with Kent.

He said: “It was unbelievable to make my first-team debut in such a game.

“I found out on the morning of the game I was playing. I’d had a bit of a sleepless night beforehand anyway just wondering if I was playing!

“When I heard I was playing, it was an unbelievable feeling. I was so surprised and it has given me a massive confidence boost that they have trusted me and they obviously think I’ve got the ability to be included in the team.

“I’d had a bit of an ankle issue the last couple of weeks and luckily I got through some overs for the seconds and bowled alright and showed that I was fit.

“When I said at the start of the season that I wanted to make my debut this season, I didn’t think it would actually happen so soon!

“Making my debut, with my family there, my mum and dad, and my grandparents, helped to make it an awesome day. I won’t forget it.

“I would love to have chance to play in the semi-final although I will take nothing for granted. I just hope I put myself up for selection. I’d absolutely love to be part of the semi-final.”

Pennington was the seventh bowler used by the Rapids and he says Moeen Ali – standing in as captain for the injured Joe Leach – was a great help.

He said: “I think I did OK. I had a bit of time in the field before I bowled to just chill out and get used to the surroundings.

“Mo was unbelievable to be with. He kept me being simple with what I did with the ball, kept talking to me which was the main thing.

“I like to be calm about things and I was calm because I was by him. He was a great help.

“It was a great feeling to be alongside an international player, and I’ve always looked up to him, and I couldn’t believe I was standing in the middle of Edgbaston ready to bowl with him standing next to me.”

Pennington experienced the rivalry between the counties when he went out to bat at number 10 in a tense atmosphere.

He said: “The whole 50 overs of our innings until I went in, I was nervous and couldn’t sit still. I kept walking around the changing room.

“When I went out to bat, one supporter said 'good luck' and the next one was a Warwickshire fan and he said ‘I hope you get out’ and that was the first experience I had of getting some stick off the crowd!

“Barny (Ed Barnard) at the other end was unbelievable for me, even though I was going through a little bit of a rough patch. But like Mo he was chilled out and told me ‘loads of time, loads of balls to get these'.”

Pennington added: “It’s been a surreal few months and everything that has happened has given me so much confidence.

“Playing in the (Under-19s) World Cup was a fantastic experience. Coming up against the best players in the world in your age group makes you feel a lot more confident in yourself.

“Then when I got back to Worcestershire they gave me my first pro contract and knowing they wanted to take me on full-time, was also a really huge confidence boost.

“I just want to keep on learning. The academy was brilliant, training three or four times a week with all the professional staff and the coaches.

“Second team cricket is also a big learning curve, playing alongside some top pros and against quality players and things like game awareness have really come on for me.”