Worcestershire Women’s Rapids fell to a frustrating Metro Bank One Day Cup defeat away to Middlesex, as the Rapids bowlers struggled to contain the home side’s high scoring top order, with Ed Wilson’s side suffering a seven wicket defeat.
Despite finishing the powerplay 48-1, Worcestershire struggled to stamp real authority on to the match, finishing all out for 218.
Phoebe Brett claimed the visitor’s first wicket in the sixth over of Middlesex’s pursuit, offering early encouragement, however a stubborn second wicket stand stole all momentum from the away side.
Although claiming another two wickets, Middlesex’s batting quality proved too much for the Rapids, as three of the home side’s top order claimed half centuries, sending them on their way to a seven wicket victory.
Returning to the side having missed last week through injury, Clare Boycott won the toss and elected to bat first on a blustery morning at the Brunton Memorial Ground.
Boycott, joined by fellow experienced opener Gwen Davies, looked up for the contest, as the latter stylishly flicked a length ball off her pads for the second boundary of her innings.
The opening pair came unstuck however in the fourth over, when Davies chopped on to her own stumps, departing for 11.
Ebony-Jade Tweats came in at number three and the Rapids’ second wicket stand worked well to rotate the strike, finding boundaries and moving out of the powerplay at an encouraging 48-1.
Driving off her front foot to great effect, Tweats then clipped one off her pads for four to bring up the 50 partnership.
With the pair looking to push on, Rachana Cambampaty trapped Tweats LBW in the 18th over, bringing an end to her stay at the crease for 30, having notched six fours.
Captain Boycott dug in well to keep the scoreboard ticking over, cutting elegantly through the offside, before edging a Whitmore delivery behind and heading back to the changing rooms having made 37.
With Worcestershire at 91-3 after 21 overs, the onus fell on Bryony Gillgrass and last week’s century maker, Sophie Beech, to push the away side past the 100-run mark.
Frustratingly for the Rapids however, the England U19 duo were split prematurely when Gillgrass was caught at deep square leg.
Meg Bishop then replaced Gillgrass, aiming to replicate last week’s 150-run partnership with Beech. Saskia Horley had other ideas for the homeside however, pinning Bishop in front for one and leaving Ed Wilson’s side at 119-5 in the 28th over.
In at seven and settling nicely, Sanya Khurana went to work with Beech, with the pair enjoying a fruitful middle order spell full of clean ball striking.
The Dutch international was not deterred despite Beech (18) losing her wicket in the 33rd over, as she stepped on the accelerator to push the Rapids past 150 runs.
Khurana batted with confidence, timing shots well against both pace and spin, with Emily Churms aiming to offer support from the opposite end.
Whilst looking to increase the pressure on the hosts, however, a damaging 39th over ensued for Worcestershire.
Aiming to send a delivery back over bowler Cambampaty’s head, Churms (10) was caught by Sonali Patel and, although having experienced joy with the lofted straight drive throughout her innings, Khurana suffered the same fate just two balls later.
With Khurana departing for a fluent 42 (32), the Rapids were down to their final two wickets with 184 on the board and 10.2 overs left to bat.
The away side added a further 33 runs to their total, thanks largely to Jess Beach’s 25 run cameo, eventually setting Middlesex a target of 218 having been bowled out in the 49th over.
Opening the bowling with Beach, Phoebe Brett struck in the sixth over for the Rapids to offer early hope.
Fresh from claiming a maiden fifer for England Women Development earlier in the week, the young spinner tangled Finty Trussler up, who chipped into Churm’s hands at mid-wicket.
Finishing the powerplay at 41-1, there was nothing between the two sides, however, despite Worcestershire’s attack’s best efforts, the partnership of Pippa Sproul and Georgia Irving proved a tough one to break.
Bishop and Gillgrass, who were key wicket takers last time out against Leicestershire Foxes, joined the attack but Middlesex’s second wicket stand remained resolute.
Sproul led the way, passing her half century as the pair combined for a 100 partnership, leaving the homeside in a commanding 122/1 at drinks.
Worcestershire needed a breakthrough if they were to slow their host’s pursuit, and it was Churms, recently introduced to the attack, who provided one, brilliantly bypassing Sproul’s defences to clean bowl the remaining Middlesex opener for 73.
Undeterred by the loss of Sproul however, the home side demonstrated why they are yet to taste defeat across Tier 2 this summer.
Irving moved to a patient half century, having worked hard for over an hour and a half in the middle. Newcomer Horley similarly joined her in raising the bat, albeit in contrasting fashion, having notched 50 runs in just 37 deliveries.
It was Brett who eventually dismantled Middlesex’s stubborn third-wicket stand, with Horley looking to loop the ball back down the ground, only to find the hands of Beach instead.
This proved to be too little too late for the Rapids however, with the hosts only requiring a further 11 runs to claim victory, which they duly secured in the 39th over.
The impressive Irving chalked up her tenth four of the match, handing Middlesex a seven wicket victory and rounding off a frustrating day for the Worcestershire Rapids.
