Captain Clare Boycott praised the “special” performance of Worcestershire Women’s Rapids seamer Amy Maund during the West Midlands Regional Cup (WMRC) win over Warwickshire and says she has taken her game to another level this season.
Maund delivered a quadruple wicket maiden – including a hat-trick – in the 56 run win at Kenilworth Wardens CC on Sunday.
She came through the Worcestershire pathway before stepping up into the seniors last summer and was part of the squad which won the ECB County T20 Group Two tournament and reached the final of the WMRC.
Maund’s potential was recognised by Central Sparks and she was selected for their 2022-2023 Emerging Players Pathway along with Worcestershire team-mates Phoebe Brett, Millie Carr, Bryony Gillgrass and Charlotte Roberts.
Boycott said: “I’ve never seen anything like that before in senior cricket.
“In junior cricket you see it more often. I was stood at mid wicket almost in disbelief because all the three wickets were carbon copies of each other, from in-swinging yorkers.
“It was so special. She bowled really well last year as well but this year she has just taken it up another level.
“She is so consistent and she is swinging it quite a lot as well and all the senior exposure just helps you to get so much better.
“Maundy is also involved with the Sparks on the Pathway and that is definitely going to help as well.”
Boycott was delighted with the Rapids performance in sealing back to back wins in the tournament.
She scored 35 in an opening partnership of 72 with Milly Home (37) and there were also useful contributions from debutant Rosie Ward (15), Bryony Gillgrass (20) and Hannah Hardwick (29) in a total of 175.
Boycott said: “It was one of our best performances. When we came off from batting, we didn’t think we had quite got enough to be honest.
“A good start from me and Milly. The ball was coming on quite nicely with the pace on the ball on that wicket.
“Rosie Ward looked at ease. Obviously she would be nervous (on her debut) but she did well and Byrony Gillgrass backed up the opening partnership and hit some fine boundaries.
“The spinners came on and Ria Fackrell bowled really well for Warwickshire to be fair and so did Laura Smitten and the wicket was turning a lot.
“It was a bit harder to get away than off the seamers.
“We would have liked 200 but, as soon as Maundy took that hat-trick, that was the game right there.”
