After a wild few weeks of boundary clearing, ballistic ball striking and brilliant bowling, it is time to take a look at how things stand at the halfway mark in the Vitality Blast T20.
What has happened?
It has been all go in the Central and West group since Worcestershire’s group opener away at Leicestershire Foxes on May 22nd, where an impressive performance by youngster Isaac Mohammed rocketed the Rapids to an 18-run win.
Brett D’Oliveira’s side came back down to earth with a bump just 48-hours later in a heavy defeat at home to early pace setters Northants Steelbacks, but the Rapids took their chance to bounce back in style the following Friday.
In one of the most memorable nights in recent New Road history, the Rapids produced a dominant all-court display to sweep aside near neighbours Warwickshire Bears and remind their opponents in the Central and West group of their credentials as contenders for the competition.
In front of a sell-out New Road crowd and Sky Television cameras, the home side hit back in style, inspired by a man of the match spell from Tom Taylor and contributions all down the batting card, Worcestershire eased to a six-wicket win to re-establish their position in the top half of the group.
An action packed five days followed, as the Rapids played three times between Friday 5th and Tuesday 9th June.
Hosting Glamorgan first up, a sparkling fifty from Adam Hose saw Worcestershire compile 168-8, before a Sikandar Raza (4-17) spin clinic helped the home team defend their total and make it three wins from the opening four group games as momentum began to build for Alan Richardson’s side.
There was no time to rest on any laurels however, as a trip to high-flyers Gloucestershire lay in wait just two days later, where at the halfway stage it looked to be the visitors’ game to lose.
However, an agonising finish saw the away side fall three runs short of victory, with a final ball showdown going the way of the home team.
The first block of Blast matches concluded on Tuesday night this week for Worcestershire, with a trip to face table-toppers Northants Steelbacks offering the Rapids the chance to end the group in third place at the halfway stage.
On a frustrating evening effected by rain, the Steelbacks flexed their muscles to maintain their unbeaten run at the start to the competition, as the valiant mid-innings fightback from Worcestershire’s spinners wasn’t enough to record victory.
Where does that leave us?
Six games into the Central and West group and it is still very much all to play for, with the Rapids record showing three wins and three losses highlighting the need for consistency in the unforgiving and fast-paced environment of the Blast.
Sat fourth in the table, level on points with third placed Glamorgan, the Rapids will feel they are right in the hunt for knockout qualification.
However, with a string of important clashes to come, the first two fixtures back after the break will prove decisive.
What is to come?
When the Blast resumes in a fortnight’s time, there are no shortages of blockbuster clashes that catch the eye.
Supporters need look no further than the first game back with the white ball on Friday 29th June, with a tantalising derby date at Edgbaston in store, where the wounded Bears lie in wait for a Rapids side keen to restore their ownership of the Norman Gifford Trophy.
In the new regionalised competition, the Rapids quest for knockout qualification then sees reigning champions Somerset land at New Road, before a first ever T20 clash with Kent Spitfires on Friday 3rd July.
The group stage is then rounded off with a trip to Cardiff to face Glamorgan, a home tie against Gloucestershire on the 10th July, before the Rapids final chance to seal their fate lands just two days later in Taunton, as the Central and West group standings are finalised against Somerset.
