Somerset Preview: Wounded Rapids race to regroup against reigning champs

Vitality Blast T20 Central and West Group: Worcestershire Rapids v Somerset

Venue: New Road, Worcester

Date: Sunday 28th June

Scheduled start time: 2:30pm

Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.

Worcestershire Rapids face a seismic showdown with Somerset at New Road this Sunday, with the home side desperate for a win to reignite their quest for knockout qualification.

After being consigned to a sobering defeat against their nearest rivals on Friday night, Alan Richardson’s side must get their campaign if they are to keep realistic quarter-final hopes alive.

The round seven defeat to the Bears will serve as a perfect tonic for Worcestershire, who have an immediate chance to bounce back against a side who have won the competition twice in the past three seasons.

Part of the reshuffle saw Kashif Ali promoted up to the top of the order alongside Isaac Mohammed, with both players hoping to kick on after showing glimpses of their best so far in 2026.

With Adam Finch out injured, all eyes will be on the seam trio of Tom Taylor, Ben Allison and Matthew Waite to make some early inroads against a potent Somerset top-order.

Excited Allison relishing chance for test against the best

Worcestershire Rapids bowler Ben Allison says Sunday’s showdown with Somerset “can’t come soon enough” with his team needing a win at New Road in order to sustain their hopes of securing a Vitality Blast T20 knockout place.

Three wins and three defeats from the opening block of six matches left the Rapids slap bang in the middle of the Central and West group, but a slip-up against rivals Warwickshire Bears on derby day has escalated the side’s need for victory, as Worcestershire prepare to face off against Somerset on Sunday.

Having missed the first chunk of the season through injury, Allison made his return away at Northants Steelbacks in the final group game of the opening half of the tournament, going onto show signs of his best with a first innings four-fer and a crucial 89 as a nightwatchman to keep Worcestershire in the fight in the recent Division Two tussle with Middlesex.

After a frustrating start to the season, Allison is eager to show his best at New Road on Sunday.

“I have said a few times how frustrating the start to the season was, from a personal perspective but also because I want to be out there helping the team.

“It felt great to be back at it in the red-ball block, but now I want to hit my straps and make some real impact in this T20 side. 

“Having overs under your belt and some miles in the legs is hard to come by when you’re fresh off the back of an injury, so I have been working hard to get myself up to speed and I feel like it is coming.

“You can’t really put a price on time out in the middle and I have really enjoyed being having the ball in my hand, but I want to make a difference and contribute for the lads at the end of the day.”

A side yet to hit their straps, Somerset travel to New Road this weekend with a point to prove themselves, with the three time tournament winners currently third in the group.

Fortunes heading into Sunday could not be more different for the two sides, with the Cidermen holding on to secure a nervy 18-run over Gloucestershire on Friday, whilst the Rapids were downed by their biggest rivals.

Featuring in that defeat on Friday at Edgbaston, the seamer is eager to put the disappointing loss behind him and hit back against the reigning champs.

“We know Friday wasn’t the best showing of ourselves, but this competition comes at you fast so you have to be prepared.

“We spoke about it as a group, identified maybe where we let that game get away from us and we will be using that frustration and disappointment as a bit of fuel when we get back to New Road. 

“I guess the way we are looking at it is that Sunday is a massive chance for us to test ourselves against one of the best sides in the country in T20 cricket. 

“Also, we know from last year how quickly things can change, so we are just focussing on doing our roles to the best of our ability and taking that positive intent into the game.”

Captain: Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Table position: 4th

Last result: bt Gloucestershire by 18 runs

One to watch: Riley Meredith

The reigning champions have endured a slow start by their own high standards, resuming the second half of the competition outside the qualification places in the Central and West group.

The absence of regular Captain Lewis Gregory through injury is far from ideal, but deputy Tom Kohler-Cadmore has ample T20 experience.

Many people’s favourites to defend their crown in 2026, the Cidermen dug themselves out of hole on Friday night to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, largely thanks to a sumptuous James Rew century.

Boosted by the return of strike bowler Riley Meredith, the genuine quick wasted no time finding his groove in his first game of the competition by returning figures of 3-30, giving Somerset a cutting edge with the ball.