Worcestershire Rapids (women) vs Middlesex (women) (match 24, league two -‘stand-alone’ fixture) at Bromsgrove Cricket Club (Aston Fields) Worcs on 14 June 2026
An unlikely nine-wicket win for Rapids women who beat top-of-table Middx women – pictured (defending champions) by continuously rotating their bowlers. For background Head Coach Ed Wilson had told reporters he was furious when in three previous matches matches were won by barrages of ‘dot’ balls that unsurprisingly, that resulted in a below-par scores. On this occasion, it was Rapids women who delivered ‘dot’ balls with four Rapids bowlers taking one wicket each. ‘In-form’ batter Saskia Horley made top-score [47 runs (from 35 balls)] for Middx women. Rapids women replied, with their second-wicket partnership between fellow England u19s Bryony Gillgrass 51*not out(37) with Sophie Beech 30*not out(17) decisively faster than one-run-per-ball. Madison Windeatt 21(31) stepped-up on her debut. Rapids move to fifth place on 13 points, one point behind Northants & Kent (at time of writing.) Without commentary. Weather as elsewhere: fine day with blue sky, wispy clouds and slight breeze 20C.
Middlesex women wearing new colours for 20 overs: two-tone vertical striped pink shirts with black trim over black joggers; skipper Saskia Horley (Scots international and Australia’s WBBL); *[Liv Gough keeping wicket for Rapids women]; *without Anaya Patel, Finty Trussler or Pippa Sproul; *Scarlett Hughes was caught by Sophie Beech, from Jess Beach; *Next over, Artemis Downer was bowled by Amy Maund; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 20/2 & 58/2 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Short of a run, Saskia Horley was ‘run-out’ by Bryony Gillgrass’s throw ‘from-the-deep’ to Liv Gough receiving at the striker’s-end; *Next ball, Izzy Routledge was stumped by Liv Gough, from Clare Boycott; *Abi Whybrow was ‘run-out’ by Clare Boycott’s throw from ‘mid-off’ to Liv Gough receiving at the striker’s-end; *Riva Pindoria was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Bryony Gillgrass, from Megan Bishop; *Next over, Sonali Patel was ‘run-out’ by Jess Beach direct-hit to Liv Gough receiving at the striker’s-end; Middx women batting: Saskia Horley 47(35); Issy Routledge 30(40); Sarah Pearson 11*not out(12); Rapids women bowling: Jess Beach 1/11(4); Clare Boycott 1/14(4); Megan Bishop 1/21(4); Amy Maund 1/23(4);
Rapids women wearing light blue patchwork shirts over black joggers, with black pads and with blue helmets; *skipper Clare Boycott – pictured *[Pippa Sproul keeping wicket for Middx women]; *debutante Madison Windeatt *with Bryony Gillgrass & Sophie Beech (England u19 tri-series 2026); *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 42/0 (vs20/2); *Approaching mid-way, Madison Windeatt was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Abi Whybrow, from Saskia Horley; *72/1 (vs58/2) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); Rapids women batting: Bryony Gillgrass 51*not out(37); Sophie Beech 30*not out(17); Madison Windeatt 21(31); Middx women bowling: Saskia Horley 1/19(3);
Match result: Worcestershire Rapids (women) 114/1(@8.1 runs-per-over/ target 115 from 14/20 ov) beat Middlesex (women) 110/7 (@5.5 r-p-o; from 20ov) by nine wickets with 36 balls remaining
*Scorecard without video, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#ce0e985c4-4fca-44be-8960-46856a59f3b0_mcc7549b0-c9f9-4a09-a383-15d11f9eb080
*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/
