Kent Preview: Rapids raring to continue form in 50-over clash

Metro Bank One Day Cup: Worcestershire Rapids Women v Kent Women

Venue: Visit Worcestershire New Road

Date: Sunday 3rd August

Scheduled start time: 10:30am

Worcestershire Rapids Women return to 50 over action this weekend, as they host Kent Women at Flagmeadow, RGS School on Sunday.

Having played four matches already in the competition, the Rapids first meeting with Kent this season provides an opportunity to continue the positive momentum gained at the back end of the Vitality T20 Blast competition.

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.

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.

The Rapids reached their target in just 10.5 overs, finishing on 56 for 1 to seal a resounding nine-wicket win.

Worcestershire Rapids batter Gwen Davies is chomping at the bit to re-start the 50-over campaign, after her side enjoyed a fruitful end to the Vitality T20 Blast campaign earlier this month.

After a challenging opening to the competition, the Rapids put themselves in contention to qualify for finals-day, with defeat to runaway leaders Yorkshire on the last day scuppering any chances of a dramatic last-ditch qualification.

However, the mood amongst the camp is an excited one, with Davies emphasising how important it was that the squad put themselves in such an encouraging position towards the back end of the group stages.

“I think there was definitely a sense of freedom and simplicity towards the back end of our T20 campaign – especially with the way we batted.

“To even have a glimmer of hope if results went our way on the last weekend for finals was quite positive, and just went to show how quickly things can turn around.

“There’s been a great buzz around the group in the last few weeks, having the vibrant youth of Caitlin Baker-Smith come into the side and perform has certainly helped, and almost gave us that burst of energy that we needed.”

In a stop-start season to date, Davies has had to reinvent herself and her batting style somewhat, in order to adapt to the challenges of facing some disciplined Tier 1 bowling attacks.

The prospect of getting back into action in the longer form of the game, is one that fills the batter with eagerness however, with the experienced campaigner looking to return to the form she showed at the start of the season.

“For me personally, I’m looking forward to getting back to the 50 over format. The T20 campaign was a little disappointing and I felt I was starting to hit my stride in the 50 over competition before breaking for the T20s, so I’m looking forward to getting back in to it this week!

“As a team we’ve also had some very good success in this format, so I’m excited to see how far we can get.”

With the longer format offering more of a chance for the batters in the side to get themselves in and set to build a score, Davies is eyeing up the opportunity of more time at the crease to cash in on some run-scoring opportunities against a bowling attack the Rapids will be facing for the first time this season.

“I think for me it’s just getting used to giving myself more time. I’m still going to look to score obviously and be positive, but once I’m in I’m able to score quite quickly and catch up.

“So it’s being able to soak that pressure up early on – to then hopefully dig in for a big one!”

Kent Women

Kent Women closed their 2025 Vitality Blast season at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence with a Women’s Vitality Blast League Two match against Sussex Sharks Women, where they lost a rain-effected game by 10-runs.

Megan Sturge and Coco Streets will be looking to continue their fine form from the back end of the Blast into the Metro Bank One Day Cup, with both of the batters underlining their credentials as match-winners for Sunday’s visitors.

With a varied and potent bowling attack, the away side will be hopeful that they can pick up their second win of the tournament this weekend, and put themselves back in contention for a qualification place.