Worcestershire Women’s Rapids captain Chloe Hill praised Clare Boycott after she stepped into the opener’s role for the two ECB Women’s County Championship T20 Group Two matches with Berkshire at Bromsgrove.
All-rounder Boycott slots typically into the middle order and did not have an opportunity to bat in the two games against Staffordshire.
But she answered the call to go in first after Milly Home was unavailable through illness and struck a superb 65 off 54 balls with six boundaries in the opening game.
It was the foundation for the Rapids’ total of 149-4 in a 47 run win, and they followed that up by totalling 165-6 in Game Two and triumphing by 41 runs.
Wicket-keeper-batter Hill said: “It was nice to get a good score on the board in both games.
“In the first game, we didn’t know whether to bat or bowl first because the wicket was a little damp underneath, and we didn’t know what it was going to do.
“It was one of those where you wanted to lose the toss, and we ended up batting, and it wasn’t a bad result.
“Milly was unavailable, and we had a little chat about who was going to open, and Clare stepped up fantastically.
“She showed what we can do at the top of the order in T20, which was great.
“I think that is the first time she has opened for the Rapids in T20, and it was a great knock.
“Emily (Arlott) and Ellie (Anderson) at the top then bowled exceptionally well. Emily went for only four an over, and Ellie got a couple of early wickets and bowled tight lines. But all of the bowlers did well.”
Hill was delighted to see Boycott’s opening partner, Georgina Macey, hit 51 off 35 balls in the second game as she put a run-out mix-up with Ami Campbell behind her.
There was also a fine knock of 33 from 25 balls by Charis Pavely, who the previous day had scored 146 not out for Old Elizabethans Thirds in a Worcestershire County League game against Feckenham Seconds.
Hill said: “She (Macey) really found her rhythm. I know she got a bit stressed over a little run-out incident (with Ami Campbell), and then I went into bat with her and said, ‘relax, compose yourself and keep going.
“She hit strong shots around the ground, which you need in T20.
“Charis is a fantastic striker of the ball for someone her age. She is doing really well with the bat at the moment, and was really great to see.
“I know on Saturday in her men’s game she got 146 not out playing for Old Elizabethans and continued her fine form with the bat.”
Flora Bertwhistle then delivered fine figures of 2-12, but there were also some other encouraging performances.
Hill said: “To see Flora bowl her those four overs for minimal runs was fantastic.
“It was nice to see Jessica Humby bowl tight lines in both games, and she and Ellie Anderson both bowled exceptionally well at the death.
“Ami Maund took the new ball in the second game and did fantastically well. She has got a bit of raw pace and a bit of raw talent.”
*Worcestershire Women’s Rapids are next in action on Bank Holiday Monday (May 2) with two ECB T20 matches against Shropshire.
