Derbyshire Preview: Rapids look to take flight as Falcons swoop in

Vitality Blast T20 Women’s League 2: Worcestershire Women’s Rapids v Derbyshire Falcons Women

Venue: New Road, Worcester

Date: Sunday 31st May

Scheduled start time: 2:30pm

Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.

Ed Wilson’s side return for a second game at New Road in as many weeks looking to bounce back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat last time out to Northants Steelbacks.

An opening day victory away at Leicestershire Foxes, inspired by an Ebony-Jade Tweats half-century started the Vitality Blast T20 in style, and the squad will be hoping to notch a second win of the competition as they play host to Derbyshire Falcons.

The focus of Sunday’s fixture will be on the Rapids top-order, who, will be looking to replicate the blueprint of the opening day victory over Leicestershire Foxes.

It was Ebony-Jade Tweats who anchored the successful run-chase that day, with the young batter looking to lead from the front once again against the Falcons.

Clare Boycott and Sophia Mitchell showed glimpses of their potential in the middle-order on what was an arduous day against the Steelbacks, with Ed Wilson looking to his skipper to continue her bright start to the season.

The Rapids will be without opening batter Sanya Khurana, who has joined up with the Netherlands ahead of their T20 World Cup campaign, and Gwen Davies who is forced to miss out through injury.

Ed Wilson has therefore brought in Yorkshire Academy prospect Elicia Pollard for the remainder of the Blast, supporting the top of the order with the bat as well as offering an option with the ball.

Jess Beach will be leading the bowling attack once again, whilst exciting youngster Caitlin Baker-Smith hopes to add to her wicket tally after an eye-catching start to 2026.

“Determined” Gillgrass out to show what Rapids are all about

Worcestershire Rapids youngster Bryony Gillgrass laid down the gauntlet for her side in the week, urging her team to embrace their new, attacking T20 Blast plan ahead of this Sunday’s clash with Derbyshire Falcons.

The teenager, who is a key figure in a developing Worcestershire side, has been fast tracked into the team after missing the opening handful of fixtures through commitments with England U19s.

Crystal clear on the objectives ahead of Sunday, Gillgrass says her side have dialled in their focus with Derbyshire next up at New Road.

“The mood after last weekend is determined!

“We weren’t at our best in any of the three disciplines and that frustrated us after being really good at Leicester on Friday, so we can’t wait to be back out there and show how good we are again!

“We’ve addressed how we want to play the game, we want to play a positive and exciting brand of cricket, but at some points we’ve gone too far so it just needs a bit of refinement.

“Compared to how we went about T20 cricket last year, we’ve had a complete mindset shift, so we are still figuring out exactly how to go about it, but I think we are a lot clearer on it after Sunday.”

After playing a leading role in England’s U19 triangular series against Australia and Sri Lanka during the winter, life hasn’t been quite as plain sailing for Gillgrass since returning to Rapids colours.

Making her name as a middle-order batter and a canny off-spinner, the teenager has been promoted up to the top of the order for Rapids as Ed Wilson searches for a way to help his side get out of the blocks in the shorter format.

After impressing with the bat last summer, Gillgrass is eager to find her stride in her newly found position.

“I’ve been disappointed personally that I haven’t been able to have a real impact with the bat yet, I’ve had some starts but then got myself out, so I’m looking forward to another opportunity on Sunday to go and hopefully get a match winning score and help the team out as much as I can.

“I’ve been stationed at the top of the order to try go get us off to a flyer, so my mentality is positivity from the get-go.

“Tweaty (Ebony-Jade Tweats) showed against Leicestershire that all it takes is one person to go big in T20s and you usually win the game, and I want to be that one!

“We can’t wait to get back to New Road, we all love playing at home and hopefully we get some lovely weather again and a decent crowd in to support us!

“I think we’ve got the right blend of youth and experience in the squad to really go and compete. 

“The vibes in the squad are so good and we are all together in our aims of getting to at least one finals day this year, and hopefully a trophy too.

“We are just taking it one game at a time though, starting with Sunday!!”

Derbyshire Falcons Women

After a disappointing 92-run defeat away to Glamorgan women last time out, the Falcons will be looking for a reaction and get their Blast campaign back on track.

Jess Couser has provided the best source of runs at the top of the order for Derbyshire so far this summer, looking good for her 16 last time out before she was run-out in unfortunate circumstances.

Rihannon Knowling-Davies returned the best figures with the ball as she took 3-25 with the ball against Glamorgan, and will be hoping to emulate her form,