they’ve done it! super worcestershire rapids are through to their first t20 finals day in the vitality blast.
the rapids made sure of their place at edgbaston on saturday, september 15 by defeating gloucestershire at New Road this afternoon.
it was no more than the county deserved after their superb white ball cricket this summer.
they topped the north group in both the royal london one-day and the vitality blast.
but, after narrowly losing the one day cup semi-final to kent, skipper moeen ali and his team-mates made no mistake this afternoon against their local rivals.
now, after reaching five previous quarter-finals, the rapids can look forward to featuring on one of the biggest days of the annual cricketing calendar.
worcestershire head coach kevin sharp told bbc hereford-worcester: “we were fully aware the club had never been to a finals day and we are all delighted to get there.
“it will be a wonderful occasion for everybody. everyone is very happy.
“we bowled and fielded well. we probably were not at our best with the bat. i think that is fair to say.
“but good teams get over the line when they don’t play as well as they can so that’s good.
“i probably anticipated, with a new wicket, a few more runs than that (136) but the bowlers from both teams bowled well and made it difficult for the batsmen, taking the pace of the ball.
“credit to callum ferguson in showing how mature and calm and what a fine player he is to see us over the line.”
worcestershire captain moeen ali said he was “very proud” of the rapids securing a finals day spot.
the england all-rounder said: “it is really fantastic for the players to reach the finals particularly after they (gloucestershire) got off to such a fantastic start.
“it is a first time for the club and it is a great feeling for the boys.”
gloucestershire captain michael klinger said: “we didn’t bat well enough. no one took responsibility like callum ferguson did for worcestershire.
“we had guys getting 20 and 30 and not going on including myself. we didn’t get a big enough total.
