Worcestershire Rapids (women) vs Leicestershire Foxes (women) (match 30, league two double-header fixture) at Visit Worcestershire New Road on Sunday, 13 July 2025 at 10h30
‘Rapids women beat Foxes in a low-scoring thriller that Rapids won convincingly both with bat-and-ball. Foxes arrived with triple back-to-back wins, also having previously beaten Rapids at Home. An extraordinary match unfolded during which the visitors soon lost three wickets in the space of six balls, two wickets falling to Rapids skipper Clare Boycott – pictured [taking a 4-fer: 4 wickets/conceding nine runs], during Fox womens’ power-play. Rapids bowlers ‘exerted pressure’ on Foxes batters who were said to play ‘out-of-character’ as they were bowled out for 55. Clare Boycott then weighed-in with her bat, making top-score of the day [30 runs (from 35 balls)]; leaving Gwen Davies to score the winning four to conclude an ‘extraordinary’ match. 15 year-old debutante Caitlin Baker-Smith made a dream start, taking a 3-fer: 3 wickets/ conceding 7 runs. Commentators were Claire B Jenkins (women’s cricket commentator, senior lecturer, former player for Derbyshire & Somerset women) with Polly Starkie (Social media co-host ‘Noughtie Child Podcast’ and ‘HerGameToo’ cricket ambassador) and Jim Dale (host of ‘On a Pear’ social media ‘podcast’ representing Worcester Cricket.) Weather was ‘perfect for cricket’ with cloudless blue sky, 26C.
Foxes women wearing red-with-green-splash *skipper Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker; *[Olivia ‘Liv’ Gough keeping wicket for Rapids]; *with Ellen Watson (Scotland international); *Lucy Higham (Blaze loan) *Flora Davies & Scarlett Hughes (Blaze/Academy loans), without D’Nica Roff (Blaze/ Rep of South Africa); *Left-handed batter Scarlett Hughes was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Emily Churms; *Next over Francesca Sweet was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ with bails sent flying by Clare Boycott; *Next ball Rebecca ‘Becki’ Brooker was bowled from an ‘inside-edge’ by Clare Boycott; *After 6 overs power-play, 36/3; *Lucy Weston was caught-and-bowled two-handed on the turn, by Caitlin Baker-Smith; *Three balls later, Flora Davies snicked-an-edge, caught by keeper Olivia ‘Liv’ Gough from, Caitlin Baker-Smith; *Ellen Watson also snicked-an-edge, caught behind by keeper Olivia ‘Liv’ Gough, from Caitlin Baker-Smith; *Next over Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Lara Crofts was stumped by keeper Olivia ‘Liv’ Gough, from Clare Boycott; *Three balls later D’Nica Roff went aerial, caught at ‘square’ by Gwen Davies, from Clare Boycott; *By mid-way (10 overs) 45/8; *April Herathge was caught at ‘mid-wicket by Emily Churms, from Flora Bertwistle coming around-the-wicket; *Next over Ella Phillips was caught aerial at ‘extra cover’ by Clare Boycott, from Bryony Gilgrass; Foxes ‘all out’ for 55; Foxes women batting: Ellen Watson 14(14), Francesca Sweet 12(12); Rapids women bowling: Clare Boycott 4/9, Caitlin Baker-Smith 3/7, Flora Bertwistle 1/4 Bryony Gilgrass 1/9, Emily Churms 1/14;
Rapids women wearing light blue front/mid-hooped back uppers, over lower black; *skipper Clare Boycott *[Ellen Watson keeping wicket for Foxes]; *debutante Caitlin Baker-Smith (15yo), Amy Wheeler (Blaze academy); Emily Churms (Shropshire loan, final match), Poppy Davies (Staffordshire loan, final match) *without Chloe Hill or Phoebe Brett; *After 6 overs power-play, 26/0 (vs 36/3); *Clare Boycott was bowled by Lucy Weston; *By mid-way (10 overs) 51/1 (vs 45/8); needing five funs to win; *As mentioned above, Gwen Davies hit the winning ‘four;’ *Ebony Tweats carried-her-bat; Rapids women batting: Clare Boycott 30(35) Ebony Tweats 16(24); Foxes women bowling: Lucy Weston 1/10;
Match result: Worcestershire Rapids (women) 56/1 (@5.1 runs-per-over, 56 runs from 10.5 overs/ target 56 from 10.5/20 overs) beat Leicestershire Foxes (women) 55/10 (@3.9 runs-per-over from 13.5/20 ov.) by nine wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m321eb67f-1f04-42f3-a135-ee50b1fcce3f
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225378 SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/worcestershire-rapids-women-v-leicestershire-foxes-women/scorecard/011b2e8c-a04c-52f4-96fd-4679ed55ef98
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Worcestershire CCC [7h14m05s] via ‘YouTube’ @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCMlFQmSAEU
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
