Head Coach Alan Richardson says Worcestershire Rapids will be determined to bounce back from their narrow last over setbacks away to Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Leicestershire Foxes during a home Vitality Blast double header this weekend.
The Rapids will entertain Notts Outlaws on Friday (5.30pm) and then on Sunday will do again battle with the Steelbacks (2.30pm start).
Brought to you by JPM Broking Services
Worcestershire have won their only Blast fixture at Visit Worcestershire New Road to date against Lancashire Lighting, and are looking forward to putting on a performance in front of their own supporters.
Richardson said: “It is nice to be home. The lads can live a bit of a normal life for a while, back at home and spend time with their family.
“The three games in four days away from home, it’s never an excuse but it takes quite a lot out of you.
“We got back at 1am from Northampton on Saturday and were back out on the road first thing on Sunday so it is quite nice for us to have an opportunity to play at home.
“We haven’t done much of that this year at Visit Worcestershire New Road, just two days, and it is always good to be back home playing in front of the members.”
Richardson says there were plenty of plus points in the narrow setbacks against the Steelbacks and the Foxes.
He said: “We’re frustrated, but not so much with the performance because we did a lot of good stuff as well.
“Whenever you go to a game, you always pick apart those little fine margins and moments in games that go your way and decisions you make.
“You very rarely pick those up when you win but when you lose you can really dissect it and overthink it.
“In terms of performance, we’ve got to be reasonably happy. We always want to play better but I think there were some really good stuff in there but it’s ultimately frustrating we got so close both times and didn’t come out the right side.
“The boys will be keen to try and put that right over the weekend.”
Richardson added: “The volatility of T20 is something I talk about quite a bit and we were close to a blow-out against Notts at 58-6 and then Nathan Smith plays an incredible innings to give us a total to defend and we go and do that.
“Just the fact you get so close in those two run chases, and ultimately not get over the line is very frustrating, but ultimately for large chunks of it we did some pretty good stuff.
“There is always stuff we are going to need to improve on, always stuff we can do better. We understand that but when it is fine margins, the odd ball, here and there, then they become highlighted.”
Worcestershire Rapids
2 Jake Libby
3 Josh Cobb
6 Matthew Waite
7 Ed Pollock
9 Gareth Roderick (w)
12 Tom Taylor
15 Brett D’Oliveira (c)
20 Nathan Smith
31 Shoaib Bashir
43 Harry Darley
54 Adam Hose
61 Adam Finch
77 Ethan Brookes
86 Hayden Walsh
88 Rob Jones
