Worcestershire Rapids women v Derbyshire Falcons women (match 8, league two women’s ‘double-header’) at Visit Worcestershire New Road on Sunday 8 June 2025
Falcons women batters were made to ‘work hard’ for their first win. Challenged to play both ‘double header’ matches on the same-day, under Rapids women skipper Clare Boycott (for 20-overs) partnered by Bryony Gillgrass banked 26 runs, but were the only batters to reach double-figures. Three Falcons bowlers took ‘3-fers’. That included their skipper Rhiannon Knowling-Davies (taking 3 wickets/conceding 12 runs) who delivered two ‘golden ducks.’ Caitlin McDonald (3/2), and Francesca Clarke (3/14) also took 3-fers. Both teams scored five ‘fours.’ Commentators said that apart from Megan Pittman and Tash Allen whose batting partnership lasted longest, tight Rapids bowling was explained Falcons women’s slower winning run-rate. Rapids women bowled a large proportion [three-quarters (78/103)] of ‘dot balls’ on a ‘tricky surface.’ Separately during her pre-match interview, Rapids batter Bryony Gillgrass explained that Rapids had to carry-on between double-headers, even if the first match had ’not gone so well’ (as expected.) On the day, she was also keen to ‘stay at the crease,’ jokingly adding that it ‘wouldn’t be hard’ to score ‘more runs than last time’ – please see below. Commentators Claire B Jenkins (women’s cricket commentator, senior lecturer, former player for Derbyshire women), with social media co-host Jim Dale (BBC Sport online.) Weather was cloudy 14C.
Rapids women wearing light blue front, mid-hooped back uppers over lower black; *skipper Clare Boycott (Megan Pittman keeping wicket for Falcons) *with Amy Wheeler (Blaze Academy 2024) *Gwen Davies was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen, from seamer Francesca Clarke; *Bryony Gillgrass went plumb ‘leg-before’ to left-armed seamer Caitlin McDonald; *After 6 overs power-play, 17/2; *Ruby Davis cannoned an inside-edge with bails sent flying for a ‘golden duck,’ from seamer Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; *Clare Boycott was caught at ‘point’ by Caitlin McDonald, from seamer Francesca Clarke; *Amy Wheeler lofted to ‘mid-wicket’ by Rhianna Knowling-Davies from Francesca Clarke; *Sophie Beech was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by left-armed seamer Caitlin McDonald; By mid-way (10 overs) v/1); *Liv Gough was caught at ‘cover’ by Maria Andrews, from Knowling-Davies; *Phoebe Brett was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ for a ‘golden duck’ from seamer Rhiannon Knowling-Davies; *Poppy Davies bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by spinner Maria Andrews; *Left-handed batter Flora Bertwistle was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by leaft-armed seamer Caitlin McDonald; Rapids women batting: Bryony Gillgrass 14(17), Clare Boycott 14(18); Falcons women bowling: Rhiannon Knowling-Davies 3/2, Caitlin McDonald 3/12, Francesca Clarke 3/14, Maria Andrews 1/11;
Falcons women wearing dark blue with light blue leg stripes and blue helmets; skipper Adrianna Darlow (Liv Gough keeping wicket for Rapids) *with debutante Maria Andrews (Blaze loan) & Lara Shaw (Blaze loan) ;*Jessica Couser lofted to ‘deep square,’ caught by Poppy Davies from seamer Phoebe Brett; *Lara Shaw was lofted to ‘cover,’ caught by Gwen Davies, from seamer Jess Beach; *After 6 overs power-play, 17/2; & *By mid-way (10 overs) 27/2); *Megan Pittman was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Sophie Beech, from spinner Flora Bertwistle; Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen scored the winning ‘four;’ Falcons women batting: Megan Pittman19(29), Natasha ‘Tash’ Allen18*not out(42); Rapids women bowling: Phoebe Brett 1/7, Flora Bertwistle 1/11, Jess Beach 1/16;
Match result: Derbyshire Falcons (women) 57/3 (@3.3 runs-per-over from 17.1/20 overs target 54); beat Worcestershire Rapids (women) 53/10 (@3.9 r-p-o, from 13.2/20 overs); by seven wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m35d35cf8-f197-4e4d-b66e-0e4ad3143c43
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225355 & SKY @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/worcestershire-rapids-women-v-derbyshire-falcons-women/scorecard/d5212f66-6532-5397-a14e-7c9cec05e919
*Full match free-to-air, with Bryony Gillgrass interview (twice) courtesy of Worcestershire CCC (vertu) [02h28m41] via YouTube @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znqTft8Gueg
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-blast-fixtures-for-season-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2024/11/27/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025/
