Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

County Seconds Bid To Secure Spot At Twenty20 Finals Day

County Seconds Bid To Secure Spot At Twenty20 Finals Day

Worcestershire will bid to seal a spot at finals day in the Second Eleven T20 competition when they take on Somerset in two matches at Kidderminster's Chester Road ground tomorrow (Thursday).

The county are currently lying in second position in their qualifying group with eight points from six matches – one behind Somerset.

If there is no interference from the weather and both games are able to reach a conclusion, then Worcestershire will need to complete a double success to book a spot at Arundel on June 5.

Worcestershire gained two wins over Glamorgan, won one and lost one against Warwickshire and saw both contests against Gloucestershire end in no results because of rain.

The winners of the four groups qualify for the final.

Several players who have been part of the Rapids squad for the opening two NatWest T20 Blast games at Durham and Lancashire will play in one or both games including Moeen Ali, Colin Munro, Richard Oliver and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

It will serve as part of their preparations for Friday's third T20 Blast match of 2014 with Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge.

All-rounder Gareth Andrew will look to confirm his fitness after missing the opening two T20 Blast games and the LV = County Championship win over Essex at New Road.

Joe Leach will captain the side in both matches after making his first senior appearance of the season in the 72 run win over Essex which ended half-way through the afternoon session on the third day.

The first game at Chester Road will get underway at 11.30am and the second at 3pm.

The squad for the first game is: Moeen Ali, Kohler-Cadmore, Munro, Andrew, Leach (captain), Pardoe, Fell (wkt), D'Oliveira, Russell, Cessford, Harrison, Hepburn.

The squad for the second match is: Oliver, Kohler-Cadmore, Munro, Whiteley, Fell, Leach (captain), D'Oliveira, Hepburn, Milton (wkt), Russell, Cessford, Harrison.