Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Worcestershire Rapids v Birmingham Bears
Venue: New Road, Worcester
Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Start time: 5.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Worcestershire Rapids are currently third in the North Group with three matches remaining and have won five, lost four, and tied one of their 11 matches to date (their match against Northants Steelbacks was abandoned due to the weather). The Rapids have won three of their past four matches - the only blot on their copy book a 34-run defeat against Lancashire - and defeated Derbyshire Falcons by 14 runs in their most recent outing.
Local rivals Birmingham Bears sit one point behind them in fifth place, with five wins and five defeats from their 10 completed matches - only net run rate is keeping them out of the top four at present. However, the Bears have won just one match in their past five outings, most recently being skittled for just 63 runs inside 14 overs against Notts Outlaws.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak in England's white-ball squad, the Bears will be without Danny Briggs after he was called up as a replacement. No Worcestershire players were called up for international duty.
Who’s in form?
Brett D'Oliveira is Worcestershire's form batsman. The 29-year-old scored a player of the match-winning 43 runs from 33 balls against Derbyshire Falcons to take him to 292 runs for the season. D'Oliveira has passed 50 on three occasions in 10 innings and is scoring at a strike rate of 126.40. Three other Worcestershire batsmen have scored 200+ runs, with Ben Cox, Jake Libby and Riki Wessels all firing.
With the ball, Charlie Morris and Ben Dwarshuis continue to lead the wicket-taking standings, with 15 and 13 wickets, respectively. However, Ish Sodhi has been their standout player of late. He might only have two wickets in his past two outings (and seven for the season) but the New Zealander was irreplaceable in the field against Lancashire, taking three catches.
Jake Lintott emerged from Birmingham's mauling at the hands of Nottinghamshire with his reputation in tact, taking 3 for 28, including the wicket of Alex Hales. Lintott has 12 wickets and a team-leading economy of 7 from his 27 overs while Carlos Brathwaite leads the way with 18 wickets in nine appearances.
With the bat, Rob Yates offered some resistance against Notts, scoring 24 runs from 23 balls - one of only two players to reach double figures - in his first appearance of the Blast. Sam Hain is Birmingham's leading run-scorer with 293 runs at a strike rate of 140.19.
What’s the team news?
Jack Haynes is fit again and could make his first Blast outing of the season following an ankle injury. He joins the XI which beat Derbyshire last time out, alongside Adam Finch.
Worcestershire Rapids squad: Riki Wessels, Brett D'Oliveira, Jake Libby, Ben Cox, Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard, Daryl Mitchell, Ben Dwarshuis, Ish Sodhi, Dillon Pennington, Jack Haynes, Charlie Morris, Adam Finch, Joe Leach
Kyle Mayers is in line for his debut after being signed as a replacement for Carlos Brathwaite, who has been ruled out due to Covid-19. Danny Briggs is with England.
Birmingham Bears squad: Will Rhodes (c), Jacob Bethell, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess (wk), Sam Hain, Adam Hose, Matt Lamb, Jake Lintott, Kyle Mayers, Craig Miles, Ed Pollock, Ryan Sidebottom, Rob Yates
Lastest Worcestershire Rapids news
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Worcestershire Rapids: WLWWL
Birmingham Bears: LWLLL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 31
Worcestershire Rapids wins: 14
Birmingham Bears wins: 17
Tied: 0
No result: 0
Abandoned: 5
What’s the weather forecast?
It is set to be a dry and overcast evening around New Road with temperatures hitting 21 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Worcester: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Click here to visit the Worcestershire ticket office.
Travel
Address: Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4QQ
By car
From the north: From the M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the roadsigns to the ground.
From the south: From M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the road signs to the ground.
From the east: From the A422, Alcester, continue on this road to the roundabout junction with the A4440 (Swinesherd Way), take second exit at roundabout on to A44, continue to follow the A44 and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
From the west: From the A44, Evesham, stay on the A44 (east) and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
By bus
Once you are in Worcester city centre’s bus station that is beneath the Crown Gate Shopping Centre, walk out of the station, turn left, continue to walk straight ahead to a pedestrian crossing, walk across this and another pedestrian crossing, continue across the bridge over the Severn River and you will arrive at the ground on your left.
By train
Worcester Foregate Street is the closest train station to the ground and is approximately half a mile from the ground. To get to the ground from Foregate Street station turn left out of the main entrance, head towards the cross where you turn right onto Broad Street. Continue straight, across two pedestrian crossings to get to the other side of New Road, walk over the bridge and you will shortly arrive at the ground on your left.
How do I follow the match
Worcestershire will offer live coverage of the match via their YouTube channel: Click here.
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here. The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Sky Sports will show this game live on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404 on Sky).
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Worcestershire arrive with slightly better form and will be eager to improve their worrying net run-rate - which could make all the difference come the final evaluation. Home win.
OTHER T20 BLAST MATCH PREVIEWS, JULY 9
NORTH GROUP
Lancashire Lightning v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Notts Outlaws v Yorkshire Vikings
SOUTH GROUP
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