Rapids staged a final-over thriller to win their first match this season, at third attempt. Batting first, England u19 star Bryony Gillgrass [34runs (from 39 balls)] made top-score for Rapids, who were restricted to a half-decent score after loanee Hannah Hardwick took a 4-fer (taking 4 wickets/conceding 14 runs.) Separately, Hannah Hardwick used to be a team-mate of Clare Boycott at ‘Central Sparks.’ Match advantage swung when Amy Maund (4/7) took a double-wicket maiden, sending Horses big-hitters Elsa Barnfather and Kelly Castle back to their ‘dug-out.’ Horses looked set to snatch victory with 10 required from their final over. Instead, Rapids women held their nerve, with sharp fielding to prevent a second run; to take Horses final wicket with two balls to spare. Weather: mainly blue sky 17C.
Rapids women wearing light blue patchwork shirts over black joggers, with black pads and with blue helmets; *skipper Clare Boycott – pictured *[Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones keeping wicket for Horses]; *with Bryony Gillgrass & Sophie Beech (England u19 tri-series 2026); *Mis-timing ‘reverse-scoop, Elicia Pollard was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Hannah Hardwick; *Sophia Mitchell was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Hannah Hardwick for a third-ball ‘duck;’ *Without using her feet, Ebony-Jade Tweats was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ by Hannah Hardwick for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *After 6 overs ‘power-play 32/3;’ *Advancing down-wicket, Clare Boycott was stumped by keeper Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, from Megan Belt; *54/4 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Megan Bishop was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ through-the-gate, by Hollie Young; *Bryony Gillgrass was aerial caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kelly Castle, from Amy Gordon; *Liv Gough was bowled by in-swing to ‘off-stump’ by Hannah Hardwick; *With both batters stranded at the striker’s end, Jess Beach was ‘run-out’ by keeper Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones’s down-wicket throw to Hannah Hardwick receiving at the non-striker’s end; Rapids women batting: Bryony Gillgrass 34(39) Liv Gough 14(19); Megan Bishop 10(10); Elicia Pollard, 10(11); Masie Wright 10*n(13); Horses women bowling: Hannah Hardwick 4/14(4); Hollie Young 1/9(4); Amy Gordon 1/12(2); Megan Belt 1/20(3);
Kent (Horses) women wearing dark-blue shirts with light-blue shoulders and white numbers; *skipper Megan Belt *[Liv Gough keeping wicket for Rapids women]; *with Hannah Hardwick (Hants loan); *Coco Streets was bowled ‘top-of-middle-and-off’ by Amy Maund’s ‘in-swing’ delivery; *After 6 overs ‘power-play 38/1(vs32/3); *Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Amy Maund’s ‘in-swing;’ *Elsa Barnfather went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Amy Maund; *Next ball, Kelly Castle wafered-an-edge, caught by keeper Liv Gough, from Amy Maund for a golden ‘duck;’ *By ‘mid-way’ 54/4 (vs48/4) after 10 overs; *Amy Gordon steepled aerial, caught at ‘mid-off’ by Jess Beach, from Bryony Gillgrass; *Hannah Hardwick was momentarily stumped by Liv Gough, from Bryony Gillgrass; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe’ four balls later, Hollie Young was caught by keeper Liv Gough, from Bryony Gillgrass; *Zeena Bilal was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Bryony Gillgrass, from Megan Bishop; *Sent back by batter, Isabella James was ‘run-out’ (next over) by Sophia Mitchell’s throw to Clare Boycott at the non-striker’s end; *Going for a second run, Sydney Gorham was ‘run-out’ from ‘long-off’ by Jess Beach’s throw to Megan Bishop receiving at the non-striker’s end;; Horses women batting: Amy Gordon 29(32); Coco Streets 16(12); Isabella James 13(14); Zeena Bilal 10(13); Rapids women bowling: Amy Maund 4/7(4); Bryony Gillgrass 3/18(4); Megan Bishop 1/23(3.4);
Match result: Worcestershire Rapids (women) 104/8(@5.2 runs-per-over from 20 overs) beat Kent (Horses) (women) 101 ‘All out’ (@5.1 r-p-o target 105 from 19.4/20 ov.) by 3 runs with two balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#ce0e985c4-4fca-44be-8960-46856a59f3b0_me5e80000-9b94-4272-d0ee-08de2c26e5c3
*Upcoming League two fixtures 20ov (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2026-4-of-4/
*Upcoming League two fixtures 50ov (2026) @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/04/25/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-tournament-for-50-overs-league-two-may-update-2026/
