Tuesday, July 25th, 2017

Bumpy Names Unchanged Squad As Rapids Look To Improve With The Ball

Bumpy Names Unchanged Squad As Rapids Look To Improve With The Ball

Steve Rhodes is looking for Worcestershire Rapids to improve their performance with the ball when they return to NatWest T20Blast action tomorrow evening.

The Rapids conceded their most ever runs in a T20 match when Yorkshire Vikings scored 233 at Headingley on Sunday although the head-lines were dominated by Ross Whiteley's six sixes in an over from Karl Carver.

That followed on from Derbyshire Falcons totalling 189 in 18.2 overs in their previous outing at New Road to chase down a formidable looking total.

Now the Rapids take on Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge with an unchanged squad and then Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road in the space of 24 hours.

Rhodes told BBC Hereford-Worcester's Dave Bradley: "That sort of score, to try and chase it down, we had to play totally out of our skins.

"Clarkey and Rossy showed some fantastic hitting, particularly Rossy when he got those six sixes in an over. That is just amazing batting.

"Sadly we chased too many and that comes down to our bowling which was off the mark and it's something that has been a pattern in the games we've played.

"There have been times when we probably haven't scored enough runs but if we had bowled well, we might have won games.

"The last couple of games, we have just gone the journey (with the ball). That's an area that's not been good enough and something we are setting about trying to put right."

As regards the rest of the Rapids T20 campaign, Rhodes said: "Let's just win them all and get some pride back into the way we can play some cricket.

"We need to nail our executions better with the ball and we will go out there and try and win every single game because that's the only way I've been taught is to play sport to win and we'll be out there trying our best in the remaining games."

Rhodes admits he had some sympathy for Carver after being on the receiving end of Whiteley's six blitz.

He said: "I've never seen it live. I felt a bit sorry for Carver but I definitely wanted Ross to do it.

"He is a wonderful striker of a cricket ball and someone we have put a lot of time and effort into in training.

"To see him get some reward from the game, by hitting six sixes in an over, is fantastic but I actually often feel 'what about the poor bowler.'

"It's a shame for the young lad Carver but he'll bounce back, I'm sure."

Rapids from:

Mitchell

Clarke

D'Oliveira

Cox

Santner

Whiteley

Leach

Hastings

Barnard

Rhodes

Shantry

Brown