Match Details VS Leicestershire Foxes
Vitality T20 Blast North Group: Worcestershire Rapids v Leicestershire Foxes
Venue: Visit Worcestershire New Road
Date: Sunday 13th July
Scheduled start time: 2:30pm
The Vitality T2o Blast action continues on Sunday afternoon, as Worcestershire Rapids welcome Leicestershire Foxes in their penultimate group stage fixture.
After losing to their rivals earlier on in the season, courtesy of a six-wicket defeat at Uptonsteel County Ground, Alan Richardson’s side are looking to finish the North Group in style.
Last Time Out
Worcestershire Rapids fell to a disappointing defeat against Leicestershire, as the Rapids Vitality Blast qualification hopes took a dent.
Gareth Roderick continued to impress having been promoted to number three, with his 49 the stand-out score in the away side’s total of 150-8.
In reply, Worcestershire’s bowlers struggled to build pressure defending their modest total, as the Foxes eased home by six-wickets in the end.
Inside The Camp
Worcestershire Rapids batter Gareth Roderick is looking forward to running out in front of a home crowd on Sunday, as he looks to build on some impressive recent form after a challenging start to the campaign.
After scoring 80 in the most recent Division One Rothesay County Championship game against Hampshire, Roderick shone in a partnership worth 127 with Kashif Ali against Northants a week ago.
Despite the headlines rightly being written about Kashif’s blitz, Roderick was more than happy to play the supporting role as he batted with superb control and fluency for his 31-ball-36.
“When you have a teammate at the other end going so well, there is no need for me to try and whack it out of the park at the same time.
“We felt more than capable of chasing down the score in around the 150-mark, so when Kash set off, for me it was all about rotating the strike, running hard and picking up boundaries where I could to enable him to just keep going.
“To spend some time out there in the middle felt good and it is always nice to know you have done your bit in a winning cause, especially after how hard we have worked without loads of reward this season in the Blast.”
In an up and down campaign before the Steelbacks fixture, Roderick had endured the same struggles as some of his fellow batters, who were only able to display their talents in glimpses against some high-quality bowling and his side under pressure losing early wickets inside the powerplay.
The South-African born wicket-keeper said that regardless of the position he has entered the middle at this season, he is aware more than anyone there is plenty more in his tank.
“Yeah of course, it hasn’t been overly straightforward at times, even when I have made starts I haven’t felt fully set, but I know that is the challenge of playing at this level and the nature of the format with the short turnarounds etc.
“I am someone who relishes the challenge and we are built as a unit on working for our teammate’s, staying in the fight when the going gets tough, which is what makes it such a special environment.
“Having said that, the innings at Northants felt nice and a touch more rhythmic. I have had plenty of starts this season, now the challenge for me is to try kick-on, whether I am coming in at three, at six, or anywhere else for that matter!
In an inconsistent campaign so far, the nature of the group stage means that not every team will get the chance to play one another twice in the season.
The Rapids have already faced of with the Foxes however, on a forgettable day back in June, when they slid to a six-wicket defeat.
Roderick, says his side won’t be worrying too much about their opponents however, as he looks to repeat his personal success from the fixture, where he top-scored for his team with 49.
“When you get this far into the campaign, you are always aware of your opponents and their key threats, but in the same breathe, the schedule has been so unrelenting that you don’t have loads of time to study and analyse as you would at other times in the season.
“For us now, it is just focussing on what we are doing, executing our plans and ensuring we all do everything we can to put on a show in front of a big home crowd.
“That score from last time against them won’t mean anything when Sunday comes, I am sure they will be up for it just the same as we will be.”
The Opposition
Best Blast finish: Winners (2004, 2006, 2011)
Captain: Louis Kimber
One to watch: Rehan Ahmed
The Foxes have quarter-final ambitions of their own, with the middle of the North group so congested, Sunday’s result is crucial in determining whether or not Leicestershire qualify for the final eight of the competition.
Like many sides in the competition, momentum has been difficult to harness for the Foxes, as they faltered at various stages, just as they looked to have been gathering serious pace.
Head Coach, Alfonso Thomas, has built his side back into contention to compete for silverware after a lean few years, with his vast white-ball experience playing a pivotal role in their rebuild.
Rehan Ahmed, has been nothing short of a revelation for the Foxes this season, taking vast strides in both the Rothesay County Championship and the Vitality T20 Blast.
After being selected as part of the England A side to play India earlier in the season, the youngster has excelled with the bat in the longer form of the game, on his way to scoring over 500-runs so far this season.
The Foxes will be hoping the starlet can continue his form with the ball also, as they look to extend their T20 season into the business-end of the competition.
Squad vs Leicestershire Foxes
