Friday, May 30th, 2014

Bumpy Calls For Repeat Show As Rapids Launch Home T20 Blast Programme

Bumpy Calls For Repeat Show As Rapids Launch Home T20 Blast Programme

Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes is calling for a repeat performance from Worcestershire Rapids when they launch their NatWest T20 Blast home programme against Northamptonshire Steelbacks this evening (5.30pm start).

Rhodes was delighted with the all-round showing of his players in triumphing over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge a week ago.

It secured the rebranded Rapids their first T20 win of the campaign and Rhodes hopes they can produce similar form against the 2013 competition winners.

Rhodes said: "There are a lot of good teams but we are not looking at Northants too much. We are thinking more about ourselves and, if we can repeat what we did in the last game, then happy days

"It was a great win against Notts in their own backyard and we will look to try and repeat that sort of performance.

"We've got to make sure we do the right things. We start afresh on Friday night.

"We may be on the high of a win at Trent Bridge but from ball one on Friday we've got to make sure we do the job right."

Rhodes has named the same 12 man squad selected to face the Outlaws for this evening's contest.

Paceman Charlie Morris, who signed a new long term contract with the county this week, is added to the starting eleven which featured at Trent Bridge.

Rapids fans will have the first chance to see big-hitting New Zealand batsman Colin Munro in action at New Road. He smashed three sixes in one Samit Patel over against the Outlaws.

Rhodes confirmed: "It will be the same squad, picking from 12 players, Charlie Morris is in that squad as well."

Northamptonshire won their opening two games but last night's clash with Derbyshire at the County Ground was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Rapids (from): Moeen Ali, Oliver, Mitchell, Munro, Kervezee, Whiteley, Cox, D'Oliveira, Shantry, Ajmal, Russell, Morris.

Meanwhile Worcestershire Seconds will be hoping for better luck with the weather today (Friday) when they take on Nottinghamshire in a Second Eleven Trophy match at the Royal Grammar School Worcester.

The Championship match between the two sides at the same venue was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the final two days.