Saturday, July 9th, 2016

Cox Again Top Scores For Rapids In Trent Bridge Setback

Cox Again Top Scores For Rapids In Trent Bridge Setback

Ben Cox top-scored for Worcestershire Rapids for the third successive match as they went down by nine wickets to Notts Outlaws in this afternoon's NatWest T20 Blast clash at Trent Bridge.

The Rapids wicket-keeper followed up his unbeaten 59 against Derbyshire Falcons and 44 versus Lancashire Lightning by making 37 not out off 30 balls.

But his side were restricted to 124-8 in their 20 overs after being put into bat for the fourth successive match on a sluggish used pitch.

Then some explosive hitting by Outlaws opener Riki Wessels, who hit this summer's quickest T20 Blast 50 off 17 balls, helped to decide the outcome.

The Rapids will now look to bounce back against Birmingham Bears and in the return game with Derbyshire in their bid to squeeze into the quarter-finals.

Joe Leach hit a rapid 18 as he continued in the opening batsman's role and the Rapids had 22 on the board after two overs. 

The all-rounder was caught at long on off Jake Ball and Joe Clarke, after one delightful back foot cover drive for four off Ball, fell at deep mid wicket against Dan Christian for seven.

The Rapids reached 38-2 at the end of the six over powerplay.

Spinners Imran Tahir and Samit Patel bowled tightly in the middle overs and the former ran out Brett D'Oliveira (9). D'Oliveira played the ball on the off side and went for a single but Tahir reacted quickly and hit the stumps with a direct hit.

Ross Whiteley (10) fell at long-off off Patel and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, aftermaking 22 off 28 balls, went in the same manner against Steven Mullaney.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell (0) was run out without facing a ball attempting a second run after Cox played Tahir to wide long on.

Cox collected back to back boundaries off Tahir and swept Mullaney for four to bring up the 100 before George Rhodes (7) in the same over was stumped.

Matt Henry (0) was caught behind off Harry Gurney before Cox and Ed Barnard collected 19 runs from the final two overs.

Wessels displayed the same sort of power hitting as had been seen by Jos Buttler for Lancashire last night at New Road.

There were six sixes and three fours in his half century and he finished unbeaten on 80 from 35 deliveries as the Outlaws wrapped up victory in the 13th over.

Henry claimed the one wicket to fall when Mitchell took a good catch running back from mid on to dismiss Michael Lumb (14).