Rapids boost knockout hopes with hard-fought win over Glamorgan

WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids boosted their hopes of reaching the Vitality Blast knockout stages with a hard-earned 15-run victory over Glamorgan.

Making two changes to the side that thrashed Kent on Friday night, Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat first, although the decision initially appeared to backfire when England Lions all-rounder Ben Kellaway bowled Isaac Mohammed in the opening over.

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Gareth Roderick responded superbly, racing to 32 from just 16 balls as the Rapids quickly regained momentum despite Kashif Ali chopping Timm van der Gugten onto his own stumps for five.

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The wicketkeeper continued to dominate the Glamorgan attack, bringing up his half-century from just 27 deliveries before sharing a valuable partnership with Adam Hose to keep Worcestershire on course for a competitive total.

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Hose was bowled by Mason Crane early in the 10th over before Henry Cullen made six and became Ben Kellaway's second victim.

Usama Mir then fell first ball as Glamorgan struck twice in successive deliveries to wrestle back control of the innings.

Roderick's outstanding knock eventually ended on 71, equalling his highest T20 score, when Jimmy Neesham bowled him in the 15th over.

Beyers Swanepoel, Tom Taylor and Matthew Waite added useful late runs to keep the scoreboard ticking, although regular wickets prevented the Rapids from fully capitalising.

Waite was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Neesham before Taylor was run out from the final ball as Worcestershire closed on 161-9.

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Glamorgan made a brisk start to their chase, scoring at more than ten an over before Tom Taylor made the breakthrough by dismissing captain Kiran Carlson for 14.

T20 debutant Swanepoel then swung the contest firmly in Worcestershire's favour, striking with consecutive deliveries to remove Will Smale and Asa Tribe and reduce the hosts to 46-3.

Sean Dickson attempted to rebuild the innings but was trapped lbw by Mir for 17 before Ben Kellaway was run out as the pressure continued to mount.

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Mir then removed the dangerous Jimmy Neesham, who was caught in the deep by substitute Dan Lategan, before Fateh Singh produced the decisive spell of the innings by dismissing Chris Cooke and Dan Douthwaite in the space of four deliveries.

Swanepoel claimed his third wicket when Nathan McAndrew was superbly caught by Lategan at long-on, with the substitute fielder taking an excellent third catch of the innings.

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Singh wrapped up the victory in the final over by dismissing Mason Crane as Glamorgan were bowled out for 146, sealing a deserved 15-run victory for the Rapids.

Swanepoel finished with impressive figures of 3-36 on his T20 debut, while Singh claimed 3-17 and Mir returned 2-17 as Worcestershire recorded a third successive Vitality Blast victory to strengthen their position in the race for the knockout stages.

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