Worcestershire Rapids Women produced a dominant all-round performance to comfortably defeat Leicestershire Foxes Women by nine wickets at Visit Worcestershire New Road. The Rapids, led superbly by captain Clare Boycott, made short work of both the ball and bat duties in a one-sided encounter.
Having won the toss and electing to field, the Rapids wasted no time in asserting control.
Leicestershire’s innings never got going as wickets fell at regular intervals, with the visitors eventually dismissed for just 55 in 13.5 overs.
Clare Boycott led the way with a superb spell of off-spin, claiming 4 wickets for just 9 runs from her full four overs. She was ably supported by 15-year-old academy graduate Caitlin Baker-Smith on debut, who took 3 for 7, including a wicket with her first ball, and Flora Bertwistle, who bowled with great economy to return figures of 1 for 4 from two overs.
Only Ellen Watson (14) and Francesca Sweet (12) offered any resistance for the Foxes, but the rest of the batting order crumbled under pressure.
Four batters failed to trouble the scorers, and three of them were dismissed for ducks in a frenetic middle-order collapse.
The Rapids’ fielding was sharp throughout, with Liv Gough playing a key role behind the stumps, including a stumping and two catches.
Chasing just 56 for victory, Worcestershire approached the task with calm assurance.
Boycott once again took the lead, scoring a fluent 30 off 35 balls, including three boundaries.
She shared an opening stand of 47 with Ebony Tweats, who remained unbeaten on 16.
Gwen Davies joined Tweats after Boycott’s dismissal and finished the job with a composed 7 not out from six deliveries, including a boundary.
The Rapids reached their target in just 10.5 overs, finishing on 56 for 1 to seal a resounding nine-wicket win.
Leicestershire’s bowlers toiled hard but had little margin for error with such a modest total to defend.
Lucy Weston picked up the only wicket to fall, dismissing Boycott with the score on 47.
It was a thoroughly dominant performance from Worcestershire Rapids Women, who controlled the match from start to finish.
