Gloucestershire Preview: Rapids on the road hunting three in a row

Vitality Blast T20 Central Group: Gloucestershire v Worcestershire Rapids

Venue: Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol

Date: Sunday 7th June 

Scheduled start time: 2:30pm

Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.

A jubilant Worcestershire Rapids head to Bristol this Sunday, buoyed by a third win of the competition against Glamorgan, as they prepare to face off against Gloucestershire.

Looking to make it three wins in a row, Brett D’Oliveira’s outfit take to the M5 full of confidence as the race for qualification hots up.

Friday’s impressive win was “close to a complete performance” according to half-century maker Adam Hose, but the man who scored 50 off 30 balls says “there is more to come” from a Rapids side high on confidence.

Isaac Mohammed made another bright start, but it was Usama Mir who lit up the lower-order with a quick fire 23 off 10 balls to rocket the home side towards a competitive total.

With the ball, Sikandar Raza stole the show in a stunning spell of 4-17, showing all his class in a game changing cameo.

Aptly supported by Adam Finch (2-25), the Rapids will be sweating over the fitness of their pace bowler after he suffered a nasty looking knee injury in the field.

Brookes chasing “more of the same” as Blast quest heads to Bristol

Four games into the Vitality Blast T20 competition this summer and Worcestershire Rapids sit third in the Central and West group, primed to travel to second placed Gloucestershire on Sunday with a chance to leapfrog their opponents.

Travelling to a ground they haven’t played at since the 2020 edition of the Vitality Blast, the Rapids will be looking to their star all-rounder for a big performance.

Stealing the show in the 2025 edition of the competition, Brookes finished as the Rapids leading run scorer, but so far this year, has played more of a finishing role.

Composed batting displays against Glamorgan, Warwickshire and Leicestershire have been backed up by efficient bowling performances, with the only blip coming at home to Northants Steelbacks.

Delighted with his side’s start to the tournament, Brookes says his side are reaping the benefits of a well-drilled and cohesive squad environment.

“We spoke a lot after last year about finding ways to keep consistency because we struggled for that early on last year.

“The competition moves at such a fast pace, if you fall behind it is really hard to wrestle it back, so that was a big focus for us.

“The team feels well balanced and everyone knows their roles, and we have options within that too, whether that is with the bat or ball, we have a nice ability at the minute to play the scenario.

“We aren’t getting carried away by any stretch, but the buzz is good, and we want to keep doing what we are doing to put ourselves in positions to win matches.

“It is just a case of more of the same, and we know we have a side good enough to compete with anyone.”

With the additions of all-rounder Sikandar Raza and spinner Usama Mir proving two excellent acquisitions, the Rapids have a newfound spring in their step four games into the competition they won back in 2018.

The signs were strong in the second half of last year’s Blast that this Worcestershire side had the capabilities to compete at the business end of the tournament, but five wins from the final seven group games was not enough to clinch a knockout spot on the final day of group action.

Now, in a revamped format, Brookes’ side are flying high, winning back to back games at New Road, including a memorable derby day win over Warwickshire Bears just over a week ago.

Although the 24-year-old revelled in getting one over on his old side, the attention has very much shifted to the next task at hand, with second placed Gloucestershire lying in wait for Worcestershire on Sunday.

“Yeah it did feel pretty great to win against those boys at home, in front of a packed house, on TV, that was a special one.

“But that was all of us buying into our prep, working hard in the week and sticking to our process on the night, as it has been in most of the games.

“We know how quickly things can change as well, which we have to be adaptable for, and Sunday will bring another test in its own right.

“They are a good side and strong at home, but we back ourselves and can’t wait to get down there and give it a crack.”

Captain: Jack Taylor

Last season: 7th

Titles: One (2024)

One to watch: D’Arcy Short

Winers of the tournament two years ago, it has been a positive start for Gloucestershire in 2026, winning four of their opening five matches of the revamped group stage.

Gloucestershire, who enjoyed a big day out in the previous meeting between the two sides last summer, will be hoping to emulate their performance after getting one over on the Rapids during the group stage of the 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup.

The re-signing of D’Arcy Short proved to be a shrewd move in the off season, with the Australian opener showing signs of his best form last week with a blistering 82 from just 50 balls to steer his side to victory against Yorkshire.

Whilst countryman Cameron Bancroft resumes his role at the top for the Bristol based side, hope are high that Duan Jansen can add to his tally of eight wickets chalked up so far in the competition.