Yorkshire Preview: Rapids looking to go back to back

Vitality T20 Blast: Worcestershire Rapids Women v Yorkshire Women

Venue: Visit Worcestershire New Road

Date: Sunday 20th July

Scheduled start time: 2:30pm

Worcestershire Rapids Women continue their T20 Blast campaign, looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they welcome Yorkshire on Sunday.

Mood in camp is high after last week’s dominant victory over Leicestershire Foxes, where the Rapids put together their most complete performance of the season.

After a solid start, disciplined bowling through the middle overs saw the Rapids struggle to up the scoring rate, with pressure building and the away side’s batters unable to score boundaries regularly.

Two wickets in the 18^th over saw the Rapids fall to 89-8, before a crucial late blitz from Olivia Gough saw the side past three-figures, as her 28 not-out from 20 balls gave the Rapids a fighting chance at the halfway stage of the match, finishing 104-8.

Yorkshire made a swift start in response, making their way to 49 without loss inside their powerplay, as the visitors bowlers struggled to contain the experienced Lauren Winfield-Hill, who played expansively until Flora Bertwistle accounted for the opening batters’ wicket courtesy of a well-judged Boycott catch.

Jess Beach (1-20) and Amy Wheeler (1-20) both exchanged wickets in a mid-innings resurgence from the visitors, as Yorkshire slipped to 64-3.

Bertwistle, again showed her ability to restrict runs and bowl under pressure as she finished with figures of 1-14 from her four-over spell.

Despite their momentary lapse, the Rapids struggled to build any pressure with limited runs to defend, as they were sent to their fourth-successive defeat, losing by seven-wickets in the end.

Ruby Davis is keen to continue her recent success, as she returns to the Rapids squad from her short-term loan at Tier 1 side Somerset, this Sunday.

The batter was handed a short-term professional contract at short-notice, after a string of impressive recent performances for the Rapids.

The experience on offer was too good to miss, as she joined the Taunton-side for a fortnight, featuring in several competitive fixtures during her stay.

Back now and eager to return with a bang, Davis inclusion in Sunday’s squad will bring a big boost to the squad enjoying playing with renewed vigour after two-wins either side of their washed-out date with Northants Steelbacks.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to go and play at Somerset, those kind of experiences don’t come around very often, so I am grateful to Ed and the club for letting me test myself at that level. 

“I’m very excited to be back out at New Road on Sunday with this team and can’t wait to try and get another win!”

Ed Wilson’s side return to action for their second home fixture in a week, after romping to a nine-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes last Sunday in a memorable win.

The victory keeps the Rapids in with an outside chance of qualification for the Women’s Vitality Blast T20 finals day, but will have to topple the current league leaders if they are to do so.

Davis, says her side are full of confidence and won’t be looking to change much ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash.

“Taking the momentum from our last few games, we will be going into Sunday looking to play with the same intent to bring home another win.

“It has been so good to see the girls transfer the positive performances into wins, we just want to try and keep the ball rolling and our positivity within the group.

“Yorkshire are top of our league table, but just like in the 50-over format if we show some character and a bit of grit we know we can perform well enough to get one over on them.”

Yorkshire Women

Yorkshire qualified for the Tier 2 qualified late last month having won their first five games, achieving the feat with three rounds remaining in the North Group.

Looking to continue their winning run through to the late stages of the competition, Yorkshire will be leaning on stand-in skipper Maddie Ward to extend their good form in the absence of Lauren Winfield-Hill, who is away on loan with Tier 1 side, Essex.

In their last outing, Yorkshire cruised past Northants Steelbacks by 53-runs, courtesy of a fifty at the top of the order from Georgie Boyce.

Ria Fackrell, another name to watch out for, showed her prowess by picking up 2-29 from her four-overs.