Worcestershire Women’s Rapids produced their most complete performance of the season as a clinical and professional display inspired a nine-wicket thrashing of Middlesex.
The Rapids took control from the outset, restricting the visitors to 20-2 in the powerplay, as Jess Beach (1-11) and Clare Boycott (1-14) returned economical spells.
Superb fielding forced three run-outs, before Worcestershire made an exemplary start to their pursuit of 111 thanks to an opening stand of 70 where debutant Madison Windeatt starred.
Bryony Gillgrass made a sparkling half-century from just 30 balls, whilst Sophie Beech punched a quick fire 30 to see Worcestershire romp home with five overs to spare on a memorable day that reignited the Rapids Vitality Blast T20 season.
Losing the toss and being asked to field first at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Women’s Rapids returned to Vitality Blast T20 action against high-flyers Middlesex looking to bounce back from defeat last time out against Gloucestershire.
The hosts made the ideal start to the match courtesy of Jess Beach, who snared Scarlett Hughes in the third over of the contest by having the opener caught behind.
An emphatic powerplay continued when Amy Maund bowled Artemis Downer for a duck, with the Rapids taking control at 11-2.
Beach ended her three over spell up front with excellent figures of 1-6, as the home side stole an early march on their opponents.
Tight lines from Meg Bishop, Caitlin Baker-Smith and Bryony Gillgrass saw Worcestershire keep a lid on the visitors, who passed fifty in the 10th over of the innings.
Skipper Boycott handed herself an over as she looked to enforce the squeeze, rotating the bowlers who were economical without reward as Middlesex batters Issy Routledge and Saskia Horley registered fifty for the third wicket.
The key moment landed for the hosts at the end of the 14th over, when Gillgrass produced a piece of fielding brilliance to run-out Horley for 47, with the Rapids capitalising on a big swing in momentum.
Boycott’s influence on the game was only just beginning, with the skipper striking wih the very next delivery after the run out when some sharp work from keeper Liv Gough saw the back of Routledge for 30, as Middlesex stumbled at 87-4.
The Boycott-Gough combination struck again just an over later, this time when the Captain acted faster in the field to run-out new batter Abbie Whybrow for just two.
90-5 became 99-7 in the blink of an eye, as the fine Worcestershire display in the field saw Meg Bishop claim the wicket of Riva Pindoria for just two and Jess Beach force a third run out as the Rapids restricted the table-toppers to 110-7.
Debutant Madison Windeatt started with aplomb alongside Gillgrass, making a conservative opening to a run chase that required the hosts to score at less than six an over.
Gillgrass took an unsurprising lead role, crashing two boundaries early on, whilst Windeatt showed a mature approach, making her way to 18 off 22 balls as the Rapids ended the powerplay 42-0.
The foundations had been laid in near perfect fashion by the two young batters, sticking to their task in fine fashion, staying wary of the threatening delivery but latching onto any scoring opportunities of offer.
The pair registered a simply flawless fifty partnership, the first by any Rapids opening pair this summer, midway the eighth over when Gillgrass launched a big six over the rope.
Windeatt batted with the upmost composure, playing a fine supporting role whilst her partner opened up, moving to 21, before her cameo came to an end as she was caught having set her side up perfectly.
Back from parent club Warwickshire, Sophie Beech joined Gillgrass, with the Rapids number three wasting no time getting to work, lacing four fours from her first nine balls as she raced to 20.
On a day where everything seemed to be going the way of the Rapids, Gillgrass then registered a first half-century of the summer from just 30 balls, in an eye-catching knock that had seen the teenager score six boundaries.
With more than five overs to spare, Beech plundered a sixth boundary of her 17 ball cameo to seal an emphatic win as the table toppers were dispatched by nine wickets in an emphatic performance from Ed Wilson’s side.
