Womens Rapids Preview: New beginnings beckon

Worcestershire Rapids Women v Derbyshire Women

Worcestershire Rapids Women v Northants Steelbacks Women

Venue: Visit Worcestershire New Road

Date: Sunday 8th June

Scheduled start time: 10:30am and 2:30pm

Worcestershire Rapids Women return to action on Sunday, as they host a double-header match at Visit Worcestershire New Road in the Vitality T20 Blast.

In a first competitive T20 match in almost three-weeks, the squad are eager to get back to action and play their first game since the appointment of new Captain, Clare Boycott.

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Worcestershire Rapids Women were left frustrated as their lack of batting partnerships led to a heavy away defeat to Northants in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

After losing the toss and restricting the hosts to 161, the visitors looked in very good position to notch up their third win of the campaign.

In spite of some valiant efforts in the field, the Rapids failed to ever get going. Partnerships proved hard to come by and after falling to 21-4, the visitors were always second favourites.

Sophie Beech, provided some resistance with a gritty 20, but after she was clean bowled, the remaining 5 wickets fell for just 32 runs as the Rapids succumbed to a 79 run defeat.

Gillgrass confirms Rapids remain focussed ahead of “pretty special” opportunity

All eyes are on Visit Worcestershire New Road, this Sunday, as Worcestershire Rapids Women get back in action as they play host to a double-header fixture against Northants Steelbacks and Derbyshire Falcons.

It has been a wait of over three weeks for the Worcestershire Women’s Rapids to get back in action, with the defeat in their last fixture away at Northants Steelbacks still fresh in the minds.

According to top-order batter, Bryony Gillgrass, the opportunity to rectify the defeat in such a unique setting is an ideal one for both her and the team.

“They’re a decent side, and we’ve lost twice of them now this year, once in a T20, once in the 50 over. So we’re really looking to show them what we actually are about

“So it’ll be my first one where I’ve got two different teams to play against, which will give us a good challenge, and means if you don’t quite go so well in the first game, you can go straight away.”

With the Rapids playing all four of their home T20 Blast fixtures at the same venue, there is an opportunity to gather momentum and make Visit Worcestershire New Road a hard place for other sides to come and win.

Playing at such an iconic venue is an opportunity that Gillgrass, and her teammates are excited by.

“It’s so special. I’ve been coming down here since I was maybe four or five. So playing here, even when we played here the other day, it was pretty surreal. To get top do it again so soon is pretty special.

“Camp is good. We’ve had a bit of change in the past couple of weeks, but we’re looking forward to going forward with it and just getting stuck in now.

Despite having a break from competitive duties, Gillgrass, has continued her impressive form as she stole the headlines whilst appearing for the Rapids U18’s against Shropshire.

The youngster showed her devastating batting prowess, scoring 230 off 133 balls at a phenomenal strike rate of 172.93.

Despite the lack of competitive fixtures in recent weeks, as well as some changes at the helm of the squad, the Rapids have maintained focus ahead of Sunday’s double-header fully aware of the threat both opponents bring.

“We’ve obviously got some new faces in which has been interesting to have to get to know people straight away. We’ve had a couple of inter-squad T20 games. So, we’ve not just not played in cricket, we’ve been sticking at it and are very excited to go again.”

Sunday’s opponents come into the double-header in contrasting form.

Northants host a perfect record in the competition to date, winning their opening fixture against Leicestershire Foxes by eight-runs.

The Steelbacks have previous against the Rapids already this year, having beaten their counterparts in back to back games earlier this season across both formats.

Derbyshire Falcons, much like the Rapids, are yet to kick-off their campaign in the Blast, so will be eager to start as they mean to go on and spoil the party at Visit Worcestershire New Road.