Worcestershire Women’s Rapids will look to kickstart their ECB T20 Knockout Cup journey with a strong showing on Monday as they travel to Wantage Road to face Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the opening round of the new-look competition.
After an encouraging start to the summer, securing two wins from their first three matches, the Rapids head into the short-format showdown with confidence and optimism, buoyed by their traditionally strong T20 pedigree.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Rapids skipper Chloe Hill reflected on the side’s form and their excitement for the knockout format.
“Yeah, obviously feeling in a good place for Monday for the T20 Cup,” Hill said. “We were disappointed with Saturdays’s result, but the mood is still really positive. Hopefully going into a bit of T20 cricket now, we can relax a little bit and go and express ourselves as a team.”
Worcestershire have built a formidable reputation in T20 cricket in recent years, with a dynamic brand of play and a squad that mixes experience with youthful energy. Hill believes this year’s squad is well-equipped to go deep into the tournament.
“T20 cricket is something we’ve always prided ourselves on. We’ve done really well as a group over the years,” she said. “With the new signings we’ve added to the squad, I reckon we’ve got a chance of going quite a few rounds. You might see a few new roles and responsibilities across the team, but everyone’s ready to step up.”
While the Rapids suffered a frustrating result in their recent outing at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Hill is hoping the side can bounce back quickly, and is calling on members and supporters to stay behind the team as they shift into T20 mode.
“It’s always special playing at New Road,” she added. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we’ll be back, and we’ll be looking to showcase what we can do. The support from members and Pears supporters is always appreciated, it means a lot to the team.”
The match against Northamptonshire Steelbacks will be a one-off knockout fixture, with the winner progressing to the next round of the ECB T20 Cup. With momentum, talent and belief on their side, the Rapids will be aiming to make a big statement at Wantage Road.
Squad VS Northamptonshire Steelbacks
