worcestershire rapids will be bidding for a third successive away win when they look to reclaim the norman gifford trophy in tomorrow evening’s vitality blast encounter with birmingham bears at edgbaston (6.30pm start).
the rapids were pipped in the final over when the two counties met at New Road on sunday afternoon – the first time they had relinquished their grip on the trophy since 2017.
head coach alex gidman is looking for a winning finale to the vitality blast campaign which concludes with the visit of glamorgan on sunday (1pm).
the rapids edged out northamptonshire steelbacks at wantage road on tuesday after last friday’s remarkable triumph over somerset at taunton.
gidman said: “i was really pleased for the lads on tuesday. we’d been on the wrong end of a few of those games where we’d performed ‘okay-to-well’, and the other team had just pipped us.
“at northampton, we probably got what we deserved for hanging in there against a very competitive team in the hunt for the top two spots.
“i thought the guys showed some great character and fight.
“i’m pleased for them that we got another win. we’ve still got two games to play, and there is no reason why we can’t go and win both of those and finish with lots of momentum to take into the winter practices.
“looking forward to the last couple of games and trying to finish as strongly as we can.”
daryl mitchell needs three more wickets to become the first rapids player to take 100 wickets in the competition.
mitchell was the rapids most economical bowler in the 2019 vitality blast and, of the regular members of the attack, has been the most frugal this summer.
the rapids will select from a 14 strong squad which will include 19-year-old academy product, mitchell stanley.
