Glamorgan Preview: Finals day spot up for grabs as Sophia Gardens showdown awaits Rapids

Vitality Blast T20 Women’s League Two: Glamorgan Women v Worcestershire Women’s Rapids

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Date: Sunday 5th July

Scheduled start time: 11:30am

Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.

A must win game at Sophia Gardens awaits Worcestershire Women’s Rapids on Sunday, with the side needing a win and other results to go their way to snatch a place at Vitality Blast League 2 Finals day.

Currently sat fourth in the table, the Rapids need to beat the current league leaders Glamorgan and hope Northants Steelbacks and Gloucestershire slip up in the final round of group games in order to secure their spot at a first ever Tier 2 finals day.

The Rapids, high on confidence after last week’s superb performance against Sussex Sharks, will have to make it back to back wins if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for a first ever finals day.

Those odds have been boosted with the news that Sanya Khurana is set to return for the Rapids after completing her time away at the Cricket World Cup with the Netherlands, coming straight into the squad.

It was Madison Windeatt (46) who starred during a comfortable run-chase at New Road last Sunday, as the youngster combined for a memorable 57-run second wicket stand with Gwen Davies that broke the back of the pursuit and will be keen to extend her form into this weekend.

With the ball, it is expected that Skipper Clare Boycott will play a big role after leading the charge against the Sharks with excellent figures of 3-23.

“We won’t leave anything out there”: Wilson ready for decisive clash with Glamorgan as T20 Blast group stage concludes.  

Worcestershire Women’s Rapids Head Coach Ed Wilson insisted his side “will do more of the same” this Sunday, as his side head to Cardiff on a seismic final day of Vitality Blast T20 group stage action.  

The equation is far from simple for the visitors, who need a win and other results to go their way to hold onto fourth place.  

With Northants Steelbacks and Gloucestershire just one win behind the Rapids, the final standings will go down to the final day as both of Worcestershire’s rivals have a game in hand.  

Whatever the outcome of the corresponding fixtures, the job at hand for Ed Wilson’s side remains clear: beat the table toppers to keep their hopes of a final’s day place alive.  

For the Head Coach, consistency is key.  

“We are all aware of the situation that faces us, but as a group we are happy with the position we are in.  

“The first and only focus for us is winning the game, which we know we are capable of as we have beaten two top teams in Kent and Middlesex already this season.  

“The girls showed so many good parts of our game during those two wins, and the focus for us this week has been on maintaining the same approach that got us into dominant positions to come out on top.  

“We had control from the start with the bat and ball, which we have shown in patches this year that when we do that, we can challenge any side in the competition.  

“We will do everything we can to produce more of the same and see where that gets us on Sunday.”  

Glamorgan have enjoyed another strong season in League Two of the Women’s Vitality Blast, winning five out of their six matches.  

If the Rapids are to do what only one other side has done all season and beat the Welsh side in their own backyard, Worcestershire know all too well that nothing less than their best will do.  

The visitors travel with renewed optimism this weekend, however, buoyed by the return of Netherlands star Sanya Khurana to the matchday squad after the all-rounder returned from international duty at the Women’s World Cup.  

Added to the sparkling recent form of Madison Windeatt, Gwen Davies and Lucy Harris, there are plenty of reasons for Worcestershire fans to feel confident ahead of the crunch clash.  

“It is an exciting time for everyone involved, it feels like we are hitting our straps at the right end of the competition.  

“We have a batting group high on confidence, who have grasped the concept of what we are trying to achieve and how we want to play, and a bowling group who have been consistently putting teams under pressure from the outset.  

“The biggest plus point for me is how we have gone about our batting. The intent we have shown and the way girls have managed situations has been first class.  

“Hopefully we stick to our guns and keep doing what we are good at when it comes to crunch time on Sunday.” 

Glamorgan Women

Beaten only once in this year’s competition, it has been another excellent year in T20 cricket for the Welsh outfit.

Key to their success has been skipper Lauren Parfitt, who is fresh off a breezy 29-ball-41 last time out against Leicestershire Foxes, edging her side to a nervy two-run win.

Scores of 25, 50 and 37 in recent T20 matches this summer serve as ample notice to the Rapids of her threat in the middle.

With the ball, it has been a bright season for seamer Gemma Porter, who has been in the wickets with the new ball, notably against Northants last month where she returned figures of 4-21.