Bears Preview: Rapids reinvigorated ahead of big trip into the Bearpit

Vitality T20 Blast: Bears v Worcestershire Rapids 

Venue: Edgblaston

Date: Friday 20th June

Scheduled start time: 7pm

Worcestershire Rapids are brimming with confidence ahead of their derby-date with the Bears at Edgblaston on Friday night, in the most hotly anticipated fixture of the Blast campaign so far.

Wednesday night’s complete team performance in the six-wicket win over Durham, has set up the clash perfectly, with vital points up for grabs in the race for the quarter-final stages.

Worcestershire Rapids had youngsters Isaac Mohammed and Ethan Brookes to thank as their brilliant cameos saw them to a comprehensive six-wicket win over Durham.

Durham stuttered their way 156, with only Will Rhodes, 58 not-out, able to cash in against a well-drilled Rapids attack.

The reply sizzled from the outset, with 17-year-old Isaac Mohammed blasting 32 from just 15 balls, as his cameo put the Rapids well in a good position after the powerplay.

Coming in at 89-3, Ethan Brookes stole the show with a blistering 51, in an innings that included eight boundaries, to see his side to victory with two overs to spare.

Ethan Brookes expressed his excitement for Friday’s fixture against his former side, racing to a career-best T20 score for Worcestershire whilst playing a leading role in the Rapids’ return to winning ways against Durham.

Brooks bowled a full complement of overs on Wednesday evening, picking up a wicket in the process, before stealing the show with the bat as his swashbuckling 51 off 24 balls saw his side to a comprehensive six-wicket win.

Selflessly, he was quick to praise stand-in captain Adam Hose’s strategic decisions in the field, but said the team’s depth in batting and bowling means the messaging and strategies remain the same regardless of who leads the team out on a matchday.

“I think because it was going quite well for me, I just kept going. It is a pretty smart squad as everyone can bat and bowl, so there’s a lot of options for the captain, whether it’s Hosey or Dolly.

“I don’t mind if I don’t bowl, I can still chip in with the bat and vice versa. If I bowl, then hopefully I can, I can do the same.

“It’s always the same messaging. We have our values and what we’re trying to stick to every game, and obviously there might be some strategic differences, but overall, yeah, very happy with how it’s going.”

When the fixtures are released at the start of each season, all the eyes of those in Rapids colours look for the derby clash with the Bears, and as if the game on a Friday night against their biggest rivals didn’t whet the appetite enough, Brookes has the added impetus of playing against his former employers.

A week on from signing a new long-term deal at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Brookes noted just how important the support from the fans has been

With a beaming grin on his face, the 24-year-old could barely contain his excitement at the prospect of travelling to Edgblaston with his team in some fine-form.

“I reckon I won’t sleep much on Thursday night with the excitement!

“It’s another game quickly, I won’t get too far ahead of myself, but if we can perform like we did today (Wednesday), then we are in with a chance.

“We know that it can change really quickly, obviously, winning today, hopefully we get a bit of momentum behind us and start a little winning streak. tomorrow.

A consistent performer across all formats so far this season, Brookes has shone in the T20 Blast, with his bowling variations and exceptional fielding skills making him one of the most valuable assets to Head Coach, Alan Richardson.

After showing glimpses of his batting capabilities so far, with cameos at Trent Bridge and Old Trafford, the middle-order star exemplified his wide array of shots during his half-century at home to Durham, on Wednesday evening.

A week on from signing a new long-term deal at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Brookes noted just how important the it was to him to repay the fans with all three areas of his game.

“Last year, it’s been my first year and I have absolutely loved it. Home is such a brilliant place to play, with very welcoming support, which has been great, so I am in for another three years.

“I’ve struggled with my emotions a little bit because I’ve not really had the tournament I wanted with the bat. So I’ve been a little bit low on confidence, whether that’s with the bat first or leading into the field, but I need to give the best version of myself.

Last season: Quarter-final

Previous best: Winners (2014)

One to watch: Hasan Ali

Any derby possesses a heightened sense of occasion, but with the added onus of vital points in the race for quarter-final qualification up for grabs, Friday’s game promises to be one to remember.

Set fair so far in this year’s competition, the Bears find themselves fifth in the North group, having won three and lost four of their opening seven matches.

Falling short of the mark in last year’s quarter-final, the Bears failed to 138 at home to eventual winners, Gloucestershire – a mistake they will be looking to avoid repeating during this year’s competition.

The Birmingham based outfit have not struggled for runs during this year’s tournament, having scored 199 or more in three of their last four matches.

Key to their success has been the impact of overseas pro’s Tom Latham and Hasan Ali, with the Pakistan pace bowler grabbing plenty of headlines.

The seamer has taken 11 scalps since joining the Bears, recording sensational figures of 6-23 in his side’s landslide win over Derbyshire Falcons earlier in the group stage.

His express pace and arsenal of variations make him a real threat to the Rapid’s batting line-up, who will need to be at the races when they take the field at Edgblaston, for Friday night’s showpiece fixture.