Match Details VS Nottinghamshire Outlaws
Vitality T20 Blast North Group: Worcestershire Rapids v Nottinghamshire Outlaws
Venue: Visit Worcestershire New Road
Date: Thursday 17th July
Scheduled start time: 5:30pm
Worcestershire Rapids entertain Nottinghamshire Outlaws in their final group game of the 2025 Vitality T20 Blast, with the Rapids needing to win and have other results go their way if they are to take an unlikely quarter-final spot.
Courtesy of three wins in the Rapids last four games, the home side are still in the hunt, but will have to win at all costs against the Outlaws to provide themselves with an outside chance.
Last Time Out
A scintillating knock of 95 off just 51 balls from Adam Hose powered Worcestershire Rapids to a vital win over Nottinghamshire Outlaws as they got their Vitality Blast campaign back on track.
An innings that included seven fours and six fours, the vice-captain, ably supported by Kashif Ali (51) and Ethan Brookes (32), propelled the visitors to 206-5.
Wickets at regular intervals kept the away side in control of the Outlaws chase, as the Rapids strangled their opponents throughout, who struggled to recover from 72-4.
In a complete performance, Ben Dwarshuis (1-23) showed all his skills to help steer the Rapids to a clinical 25 run-win.
Inside The Camp
Worcestershire seamer Adam Finch is keen for his side to “continue the momentum” they have built, as they head into a final group-match fixture needing a win and results elsewhere to go their way to have any chance of sneaking a quarter-final place.
Winning two of their three games last week, the Rapids put themselves in contention for qualification as a top-four seed in the North group, which, if they were successful, would extend their T20 season into the quarter-final stages.
Narrow defeats to Lancashire and Bears at Edgbaston dented the Rapids hopes of qualification, but their excellent finish to the group stage has been impressive.
Finch, says his side’s improvement in the key moments and consistency in matches has been the most noticeable change.
“That’s something that’s spoken a lot about in this competition, getting and keeping momentum, if you can.
“So I suppose that’s something maybe to try and think about in the coming years. If you do happen to lose a bit of momentum, how you try and regain that?
“Hopefully we can continue this momentum that we do have now and get another win on Thursday.
“If I’m honest, I think sometimes T20 cricket can be a game of really fine margins, little moments in games, overs or balls can really massively dictate the result of the game.
“So I think maybe just a few of those things have gone in our favour, and obviously maybe put a bit more together in terms of the application of our skills.
“Not masses has been too different, they’ve just happened to swing our way this half of the competition.”
In a busy period for the 25-year-old, Finch has enjoyed becoming a mainstay of the Worcestershire side across both formats, shining in the draw against Hampshire last month with some aggressive and fast bowling, while expanding his repertoire in the white-ball game.
Despite being challenged physically with the demands and intensity of the workload, Finch is relishing the opportunity of having sustained time in the side.
“Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a it’s been a good couple of weeks. It’s been a tiring couple of weeks, but you know, to have the crowds that we’ve had here at New Road has been really good for us, and given the group a lot of energy.
“So hopefully we can kind of keep that up for this last game on Thursday, and then moving into that championship block afterwards as well.
“Just constantly trying to develop and learn different skills and different attributes to my game. I think just constantly trying to develop and evolve my game.
“Hopefully this is just another string to the bow of assets that I can try and call upon throughout my career.”
With Thursday’s tie against the Outlaws very much a knock-out fixture for the hosts, the Rapids will be hoping they can recreate the magic on show at Trent Bridge earlier on in the competition when Adam Hose starred with a stunning 95, leading his team to a 25-run win.
Finch, is optimistic his side can perform and give themselves a chance at an outside qualification.
“Hopefully we can finish the campaign with a win, in front again of a good crowd here at New Road. I think it’s always a good game between us and the Outlaws, so let’s hope we come away on the on the right result of that.”
The Opposition
Last result: Notts Outlaws bt Durham by seven-wickets
Table position: Seventh
One to watch: Tom Moores
In the same vein as their opponents on Thursday, the Outlaws head to Visit Worcestershire New Road in search of a win to keep their own quarter-final ambitions alive.
With the slight advantage of having played one game fewer, the Outlaws will finish their group stage by hosting Lancashire Lightning on Friday evening, but only a win the night prior will save that game from becoming a dead-rubber.
On the back of a big win over Durham last time-out, the Outlaws are looking to go deep into the competition and chase a third Vitality T20 Blast title.
Tom Moores has been a key figure for Nottinghamshire this year, scoring 327 runs at an average of 40.87 for his side, batting in the middle-order.
His top score of 74 came off just 33 balls, as the 28-year-old launched an assault on the Bears bowling attack in the middle of June, highlighting just how dangerous he can be.
Squad vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws
