Match Details VS Northants Steelbacks
Vitality Blast T20 Central Group: Northants Steelbacks v Worcestershire Rapids
Venue: Cinch County Ground, Northampton
Date: Tuesday 9th June
Scheduled start time: 6:30pm
Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.
A midweek match up against Central and West Group leaders Northants Steelbacks awaits Worcestershire Rapids on Tuesday, as Alan Richardson’s side look to set the record straight against the early season pacesetters.
An agonising last ball defeat to Gloucestershire on Sunday sees the Rapids sat fourth in the group, but a win at the Cinch County Ground would see Worcestershire leapfrog Glamorgan and finish the first half of the tournament in third place.
The Latest
After a hefty defeat at home in the reverse fixture, Worcestershire will be hoping their top order can fire in Northampton, with Isaac Mohammed and Adam Hose both showing signs of their best form in recent group games.
A superb display with the ball on Sunday restricted the home side to just 148-8, with Tom Taylor (2-20) and Matthew Waite (2-30) suffocating Gloucestershire’s batters at either end of the innings in one of the most impressive performances with the ball the Rapids have produced all tournament.
Sikandar Raza has enjoyed a purple patch with both the bat and ball of late, and will be keen to show his former employers what they are missing as the number one ranked T20 all-rounder in the world looks to extend his excellent run of form.
However, the Rapids will have to square off against the Steelbacks without some of their frontline names, with Isaac Mohammed (concussion) and Matthew Waite (knock) missing out on the match day squad.
Inside The Camp
Kadeer Ali says Worcestershire Rapids “won’t be sidetracked” as his side look to put Sunday’s narrow defeat behind them ahead of a crucial group game against Northants Steelbacks tomorrow night.
The fast-paced nature of the tournament has seen the Rapids play three games in the space of five days, with Tuesday’s trip to Northants providing the perfect opportunity to bounce back from the last ball loss to Gloucestershire.
With the Cinch County Ground playing host to the last game before the break for the Rothesay County Championship, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown.
Assistant Coach Ali is confident that his team will stay on task for the final game of the block, knowing a fourth from their opening seven games will take them third.
“Of course, there was some frustration after the weekend, where we were so clinical on Friday, we struggled to back it up on Sunday.
“We were probably one partnership or one more innings away from winning that game, but we will learn from that about how to manage those situations.
“The beauty of this tournament is that the games come thick and fast, so out next chance to put it right is only around the corner.
“We won’t get sidetracked by what happened on Sunday. We addressed it, we will learn from it, and we are ready to go again against Northants on Tuesday.”
Boasting a perfect record in the tournament to date, the Steelbacks are the only unbeaten side left in this year’s Blast.
After a one-sided clash at New Road earlier in the tournament saw the Rapids slide to a 100-run defeat, Tuesday’s visitors have a point to prove.
If the away side are to return to winning ways, they will have to do it without two of their star names, with Matthew Waite and Isaac Mohammed absent from the travelling squad.
Isaac (concussion) and Waite (knock) miss out on Tuesday night’s assignment, but after pushing second placed Gloucestershire all the way on Sunday, there is no shortage of confidence within the Rapids’ playing group.
In the eyes of Worcestershire’s Assistant Coach, the rotation presents an opportunity for other members of the squad to stake a claim of their own.
“The tournament is one that comes at you fast, and you need to always be prepared and keep the whole squad fit wherever you can.
“We have been fortunate to keep that consistency and name an unchanged side for each of our first five games, which is down to good form and having a fully fit side to pick from.
“The circumstances aren’t ideal, but what it does do is open an opportunity for some of the other lads to make an impact.
“It is a brilliant chance for those lads who come in, against a high-quality opposition, at their home ground and go and contribute with bat or ball.
“In these kind of games you need to be super clinical and well-drilled, so whoever takes their opportunities on the night will be the favourites.”
The Opposition
Captain: David Willey
Group position: 1st
Titles: Two (2013 & 2016)
One to watch: Calvin Harrison
The form side in the Central and West group, the Steelbacks are the team to beat, boasting a perfect record of five wins from five matches.
With threats across their line-up, Saturday’s impressive crossover game win over Durham cemented the Northants position at the top of the Central and West group.
A balanced and organised side, Calvin Harrison has been the man in form with the ball for Northants, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of just over seven, with his season’s best figures of 4-17 coming against the Rapids at New Road.
With experienced skipper David Willey at the helm and the evergreen Darren Lehman in charge, the Steelbacks’ impressive start will make them hot favourites for some T2o silverware this year.
Squad vs Northants Steelbacks
