Amy Maund produced scintillating figures of 4-7 with the ball, as Bryony Gillgrass claimed 3-18 alongside top-scoring with 34 runs, sending the Women’s Rapids to a first Blast victory in three attempts against a tricky Kent side.
Batting first at the St Lawrence Ground, Gillgrass admirably anchored Worcestershire’s innings, however lacked real support as Ed Wilson’s side ended their 20 overs at 104-8.
Amy Maund struck with her first ball and continued to claim three more wickets, in what was a devastating spell with the ball, before Gillgrass chipped in with three scalps.
Having kept the scoreboard moving, however, Kent required 10 from the final over, as Jess Beach and Meg Bishop combined to claim the homeside’s final wicket, causing joyous scenes of celebration as the Women’s Rapids claimed victory by three runs.
Having lost the toss, Rapids’ openers Bryony Gillgrass and Elicia Pollard took to the middle, keen to get their side off to a fruitful start.
Having encountered a disappointing home debut, Pollard looked confident, scooping Sydney Gorham for her first runs in Rapids colours.
Two frontfoot drives by the Yorkshire loanee found the rope the following over, as both her and Gillgrass pushed into double figures.
Kent forced an early breakthrough, however, as Hannah Hardwick bowled the promising Pollard, who was aiming to employ the scoop once more.
Sophia Mitchell, who had been promoted up the order to bat at three, came in hoping to emulate her encouraging starts in her early Rapids career.
Hardwick had other ideas, however, bowling the Essex loanee as she returned for her second over.
The former Rapid then claimed her third scalp two deliveries later, as newcomer to the crease Ebony-Jade Tweats suffered the same fate as Mitchell, leaving Worcestershire in need of a rebuild at 32/3 moving out of the Power Play.
With Kent’s tails firmly up, Rapids captain Clare Boycott joined the anchoring Gillgrass for the away side’s fourth wicket.
The pair employed patience, as Kent continued to shuffle their bowling pack, restricting the away side to a foray of singles.
Frustratingly for the Rapids, the wicket of Boycott then fell, as she was stumped whilst looking to get her side on the march once more.
Meg Bishop joined the steady Gillgrass and looked to get the scoreboard moving, capitalising on a full toss to crunch a six over square leg, as the Rapids pushed past the 50-run mark.
Hollie Young struck the next over, however, tying Bishop up in front of the stumps and beating her bat, removing her for 10.
Now in the 13th over, Liv Gough joined Gillgrass, with the duo looking to display some defiance at the crease; however, continued measured bowling by the hosts ensured the Rapids struggled to push the rate north of five.
Having knitted together the visitors’ innings with maturity, Gillgrass decided it was time to step on the gas, but came unstuck as she was caught looking for the maximum return over long-on, departing for 34.
Hardwick bowled Gough (14) the next over, notching her fourth wicket of the day in an impressive spell for the homeside, finishing with figures of 4-14.
Jess Beach and Maisie Wright came together to push the Rapids past 100, but as Beach was dismissed with the final ball of the innings, Worcestershire’s total of 104-8 left Ed Wilson’s side in need of a fierce performance with the ball.
Beach opened for the Rapids, setting steady foundations, having allowed just one run from the opening over.
Kent’s opening batters soon settled, however, striding to 35-0 after the fourth.
The Rapids didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough, though, as it came the very next ball; birthday girl Amy Maund pouncing with her very first delivery of the match, sending Coco Streets packing for 16 in an over where just one run was allowed.
Bishop complimented Maund brilliantly, going for two runs the next over, before Maund struck once more, sending Blinkhorn-Jones back to the changing rooms with an exquisite delivery nipping back on to the stumps.
With the match finely poised with the homeside at 39-2 after seven, Amy Maund continued in unbelievable fashion.
Tangling Barnfather up and trapping her LBW, Maund then found Castle’s edge the very next delivery as she completed a sensational double-wicket maiden.
Worcestershire’s fine work with the ball meant Kent were teetering at 47-4, however they endeavoured to dig in, led by opener Gordon, as momentum swayed between either side.
Seeing the ball well, Gordon threatened to push on and pose increasing danger to the Rapids, however a fine catch from Beach off the bowling of Gillgrass ensured her attack ended on 29.
The England U19 star then demonstrated her all-rounder pedigree, as the Rapids strengthened their hold on the match in the 14th over.
The Rapids’ top-scorer of the day with the bat saw the back of Hardwick courtesy of an alert stumping by Gough, before snagging Young’s feint edge as Gough again made no mistake to hold on behind the stumps.
At 67-7, Ed Wilson’s side knew a first Blast victory in three games was within reach, however Zeena Bilal and Isabella James worked well to leave Rapids hearts beating a little faster, as Kent required 26 from the final four overs to win.
Looking to accelerate towards their target, Gillgrass importantly held on to a huge Bilal heave at deep mid-wicket, as Bishop got amongst the wickets.
With Kent now needing 14 off 10, it was more impressive work in the field that nudged the Rapids agonisingly closer to victory; Sophia Mitchell and Boycott combining well to capitalise on a Kent mix-up.
Down to their final wicket, the hosts continued to edge closer to the Rapids’ total, with the match able to go in either side’s favour.
Requiring 10 off the final over, a reverse sweep from Belt found the rope, leaving Worcestershire feeling it might not be their day after all.
However, Kent’s final wicket stand got caught up pushing for an extra run, and when Jess Beach fired into the bowler’s end, all that was left to do was for Bishop to send the bails sky-high, sparking scenes of jubilation from the Worcestershire Women’s Rapids.
Amy Maund returned incredible figures of 4-7 from her four overs, as she continued to impress on her return from injury, with Bryony Gillgrass also notching 3-18, having made 34 with the bat, ultimately helping the Rapids to a hard-fought three-run victory.
