T20 Blast Essentials: Worcestershire Rapids v Yorkshire Vikings

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 Lancashire Lightning

Venue: New Road, Worcester

Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Start time: 5.30pm

What’s the lowdown? 

Worcestershire are unbeaten heading into their fourth match of the 2021 T20 Blast. Drawn against Notts Outlaws fortheir season opener, Rapids produced a thriller at New Road to earn a tie before rolling over Northants Steelbacks by 32 runs in round two.

But despite their good start, they headed into their home tie with Lancashire as the underdogs and duly pulled off a surprise result, triumphing by eight wickets after restricting Jos Buttler and co. to 132 for 4.

The Vikings have become synonymous with big scores in recent years and this term it appears no different. They hit a staggering 240 for 4 against Leicestershire Foxes last night, which helped them climb into sixth in a very strong North Group.

They fell to a defeat against Durham on Friday night, mainly due to a 50 by Brydon Carse, who came in at No.8 and flipped the contest on its head with some belligerent hitting. They will be immensely buoyed by last night's success and with victory this evening they will leap into the knockout spots.

Who’s in form?

Rapids captain Moeen Ali has been very consistent with the ball, taking four wickets and bowling with an economy of 5.45. His batting has been less predictable, but his half-century against Northamptonshire was a promising sign. Brett D'Oliveira has been Worcestershire's best batsman, scoring 109 runs, while Charlie Morris is their leading wicket-taker with six.

Yorkshire Vikings' top three is fearsome. Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow were in sparkling touch last night, striking the ball to all parts. Bairstow’s 82 of 45 balls was particularly destructive, and with world No.1 Dawid Malan yet to fire at number three, Yorkshire’s team already appears formidable.

Add to that the skills of experienced international Adil Rashid and young gun Lockie Ferguson and the Vikings appear to have assembled a potentially title winning side. Jordan Thompson is also the joint leading wicket taker, with eight wickets.

What’s the team news? 

Worcestershire Rapids squad: Riki Wessels, Brett D'Oliveira, Moeen Ali, Jake Libby, Ross Whiteley, Ben Cox, Ed Barnard, Ish Sodhi, Ben Dwarshuis, Charlie Morris, Josh Tongue, Tom Fell, Daryl Mitchell

Gary Ballance has been added to Yorkshire's squad, having been in fine form for the the county's second team last week.

Yorkshire Vikings squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Dom Bess, Harry Brook, Lockie Ferguson, Will Fraine, Matt Fisher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite

Last five T20 results (most recent first)

Worcestershire Rapids: WWTLL

Yorkshire Vikings: WLWWL

Head-to-head T20 record  

Total matches: 10

Worcestershire Rapids wins: 5

Yorkshire Vikings wins: 5

Tied: 0

No result: 0

Abandoned: 3

What’s the weather forecast? 

Perfect cricket conditions forecast in Worcester with low winds and cloudless skies. Temperatures expected to peak around 25 degrees Celsius.

Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Worcester: Click here

Going to the game?

Tickets

No tickets are on public sale for this fixture, with the club conducting a ballot of members.

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?

It’s a tough one to call as Yorkshire appear to have hit their straps, while Worcestershire remain unbeaten. The home advantage must have some effect so, Worcestershire win.

OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16

North Group

Leicestershire Foxes v Birmingham Bears

South Group

Glamorgan v Kent Spitfires