Worcestershire Rapids women vs Kent Horses women – (league two, match 15); at Royal Grammar School, Worcester on Sunday 3 August 2025 (10h30)
Exciting match for the home team saw Rapids post a defendable score, to secure equal fourth place with Yorkshire, whom they beat in the opening round. Playing innings anchor-role Clare Boycott [43 runs (from 53 balls)] saw Rapids reach 88/3 by the nineteenth over, pausing briefly for injury resulting from Genevieve Jeer’s last power-play delivery. Top-scorer Bryony Gillgrass [80 (from 78 balls] played ‘fluently.’ Match was paused a second time for injury, just past the 200-mark mid-way through the fortieth over. Rapids were then bowled-out, losing four wickets for eight runs. Horses’ reply was disappointing as only two players reaching double-figures. Two Rapids bowlers took 3-fers: Hannah Hardwick – pictured (taking 3 wickets/conceding 22 runs) and Caitlin Baker-Smith 3/14. Top-scorer was Megan Sturge [74 (from 87 balls)] who scored half Horses’ runs ‘under scoreboard pressure,’ as Horses were bowled-out by a wide margin with fourteen overs remaining.
Rapids women wearing light blue front, mid-hooped back uppers over lower black with light-blue helmets; *skipper Clare Boycott [Megan Sturge keeping wicket for Horses]; *After ten overs power-play: 50/0; *Gwen Davies was caught from a ‘top-edge’ by keeper Megan Sturge, from Olivia ‘Liv’ Barnes; *Mis-timing a ‘sweep,’ Sophie Beech, went ‘leg-before’ to left-armed spinner Olivia ‘Liv’ Barnes; *Mis-timing a ‘sweep,’Clare Boycott was bowled by Isabella ‘Issy’ James; *By mid-way(25 ov)108/3; *Ruby Davis was caught aerial at ‘deep square’ by Zeena Bilal, from Megan Belt; *Bryony Gillgrass was caught aerial at ‘square’ by Zeena Bilal from Sophie Singer; *Hannah Hardwick was stumped by keeper Megan Sturge, from Sophie Singer; *Ebony-Jade Tweats was caught aerial at ‘deep mid-off’ by Megan Belt from Ella Darlington; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe, Caitin Baker-Smith went ‘leg-before’ to Genvieve Jeer; *Jess Beach was caught-and-bowled aerial by Ella Darlington; *Mis-timing a ‘chop’ Amy Wheeler was bowled by Genvieve Jeer; Rapids women batting: Bryony Gillgrass80(78), Clare Boycott43(53), Ebony-Jade Tweats 41(48) Gwen Davies23(36), Sophie Beech12(23), Amy Wheeler10(17); Horses women bowling: Ella Darlington 2/21, Sophie Singer 2/32, Olivia ‘Liv’ Barnes 2/35, Megan Belt 1/34, Isabella ‘Issy’ James 1/43;
Horses women wearing bright-blue with white shoulder trim over dark blue *wkipper Megan Belt [Sophie Beech keeping wicket for Rapids]; with Megan Sturge (Hants loan); *Tilly Callaghan went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Amy Wheeler; *Mis-timing a ‘prod,’ Ella Darlington went ‘leg-before’ to Amy Wheeler; *Sophie Singer, was caught by Davies from Hannah Hardwick;*Elsa Barnfather was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Amy Wheeler; *After ten overs power-play: 42/4 (vs 50/0); *Coco Streets was bowled by Hannah Hardwick;*Genvieve Jeer went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Flora Bertwistle’s spin; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Zeena Bilal was bowled by Jess Beach; *By mid-way (25 ov) 98/7 (vs 108/3); *Olivia ‘Liv’ Barnes was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Clare Boycott, from Caitin Baker-Smith; *Top-scorer Megan Sturge was caught aerial at ‘cover’ by Ebony-Jade Tweats from Caitin Baker-Smith; *Isabella ‘Issy’ James, 35.5 ov) was caught by keeper Sophie Beech from Caitin Baker-Smith; Horses women batting: Megan Sturge 74(87), Isabella ‘Issy’ James 13(23); Rapids women bowling: Caitin Baker-Smith 3/14, Hannah Hardwick 3/22, Amy Wheeler 2/31, Jess Beach 1/29, Flora Bertwistle 1/30;
Match result: Worcester Rapids (women) 244 ‘All out’ (@ x5.2 runs-per-over, from 49.2/50 overs) beat Kent Horses (women) 143 ‘All out’ (@y3.9 runs-per-over, from 35.5/50 overs/target 245 from 50/50ov.) by 101 runs with 64 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m99df9256-91c6-48ee-a39b-d2095f723b1a & https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/fixture/worcestershire-rapids-women-vs-kent-women/?tab=m_scorecard
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225599 & SKY Sports@url:https://www.skysports.com/cricket/worcestershire-rapids-women-v-kent-women/scorecard/ea2550b4-594e-5323-a866-fe9f8b007449
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/25/metro-bank-league-two-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
