Derbyshire Preview: Rapids search for winning formula against Falcons

Vitality T20 Blast: Derbyshire Falcons Women v Worcestershire Rapids Women

Venue: Queen’s Park, Chesterfield 

Date: Saturday 28th June

Scheduled start time: 2:30pm

There is no time for the Women’s Rapids to ponder what might have been, after defeat away at Headingly on Friday left them searching for their first T20 Blast win of the season.

Up next, it’s a short turnaround prior to tomorrow’s clash with Derbyshire Falcons Women.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, he Rapids innings got off to a far from ideal start as both Gwen Davies (4) and Bryony Gillgrass (2) were dismissed inside the powerplay.

Skipper, Clare Boycott, however steadied the ship for her side, going about her business in a controlled and composed opening cameo.

New signing Ebony Tweats was unfortunate not to make more of an impression as she was bowled without scoring, with Worcestershire 44-3 after eight overs.

Chloe Hill came and went soon after when she mistimed a drive over mid-off, as the Rapids struggled to build momentum.

Boycott continued, and took her side past fifty, but could only survive until the 14^th over when she feathered an edge behind whilst taking on an expansive cover drive, departing for a well-made 35 off 40 balls.

The disciplined bowling through the middle overs saw the Rapids struggle to up the scoring rate, with pressure building and the away side’s batters unable to score boundaries regularly.

Two wickets in the 18^th over saw the Rapids fall to 89-8, before a crucial late blitz from Olivia Gough saw the side past three-figures, as her 28 not-out from 20 balls gave the Rapids a fighting chance at the halfway stage of the match, finishing 104-8.

Yorkshire made a swift start in response, making their way to 49 without loss inside their powerplay, as the visitors bowlers struggled to contain the experienced Lauren Winfield-Hill, who played expansively until Flora Bertwistle accounted for the opening batters’ wicket courtesy of a well-judged Boycott catch.

Jess Beach (1-20) and Amy Wheeler (1-20) both exchanged wickets in a mid-innings resurgence from the visitors, as Yorkshire slipped to 64-3.

Bertwistle, again showed her ability to restrict runs and bowl under pressure as she finished with figures of 1-14 from her four-over spell.

Despite their momentary lapse, the Rapids struggled to build any pressure with limited runs to defend, as they were sent to their fourth-successive defeat, losing by seven-wickets in the end.

Saturday’s opponents come into the contest, having already defeated Worcestershire once this season, when the sides met at Visit Worcestershire New Road earlier on this season.

The Falcons currently sit fourth in the Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 table, after winning two and losing two of their opening four matches.

Heading into Saturday’s fixture, Derbyshire will be looking to improve their batting performance after losing by 59-runs against Yorkshire in defeat a week ago.