Hose, Raza get Rapids flowing before Kent collapse

Adam Hose swings away a pull ECB via Getty Images

Worcestershire 142 for 7 (Hose 47, Raza 43, Milnes 3-20) beat Kent 59 (Raza 2-8, Allison 2-9, Mir 2-14) by 83 runs

Worcestershire Rapids recorded a vital and comprehensive Vitality Blast over Kent Spitfires by 83 runs in the crossover fixture at New Road.

Put in on a bowler-friendly pitch, the Rapids were lifted to 142 for seven by Adam Hose (47 from 41 balls) and Sikandar Raza, on his farewell appearance before leaving for international duty, who struck 43 from 31.

Kent's bowlers, led by Matt Milnes (4-0-20-3) and Keith Dudgeon (4-0-22-1), sustained pressure throughout but their batters then imploded to the county's lowest ever Blast total. The Spitfires were all out for just 59 in 14.1 overs as Usama Mir delivered 4-0-14-2, Raza 3-0-8-2 and Ben Allisom 2-0-9-2

Both sides began their first ever Blast meeting having won four and lost four in this year's comp so were well aware that one more defeat would leave them playing serious catch-up with time running out. Kent were quickest out of the blocks, restricting the Rapids to 27 for 2 in the powerplay. Dudgeon bowled three excellent overs while Tom Rogers and Milnes conceded just three runs from the first two overs from the New Road End.

When Gareth Roderick sliced Jake Lintott to extra cover, the Rapids were 44 for 3 in the ninth over but Hose and Raza rebuilt with a stand of 68 in eight overs. Acceleration was a while coming - the first six of the innings, from Raza, arrived from its 87th ball. Raza socked the second four balls later but then had his middle-stump plucked out by Milnes.

Milnes collected his third wicket when Matthew Waite chopped to short third. Hose perished when he lifted a pull to deep square and the Rapids appeared to come in slightly under par. They knew they would have to bowl well to win. They did.

Kent's reply started badly as they dipped to 16 for 3. Harry Finch was bowled leg stump by Tom Taylor before Allison struck twice in his first three balls. His first was swatted to short fine leg by Daniel Bell-Drummond. His third was a beauty which hit Sam Billings' off stump.

The Spitfires were a parlous 32 for 3 after the powerplay. Thirteen balls later they were 39 for 6 after Raza's fourth ball trapped Joe Denly lbw, Mir's first had Zak Crawley caught behind and Raza's seventh was brainlessly lifted to long-off by Rogers.

Lintott was run out when his former Warwickshire colleague Chris Benjamin declined to take a single. Benjamin was then plumb lbw to Mir and the ignominious collapse concluded when in appropriate fashion with another careless run out when Dudgeon jogged a single and was beaten by Taylor's throw.

Kent 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9DJ Bell-DrummondHZ Finch
2nd7DJ Bell-DrummondZ Crawley
3rd0SW BillingsZ Crawley
4th19JL DenlyZ Crawley
5th0TS RogersZ Crawley
6th4TS RogersCG Benjamin
7th3JB LintottCG Benjamin
8th9G StewartCG Benjamin
9th3KJ DudgeonG Stewart
10th5KJ DudgeonME Milnes

Twenty20 Cup (England)

Central & West Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
NOR972280.557
GLO954200.024
SOM945160.193
WAR94516-0.005
WOR94516-0.585
GLA93612-0.171
Cross Pool
TeamMWLPTNRR
NOR22083.425
GLO22082.825
WOR22082.525
SOM22081.669
GLA22080.777
NOT22080.496
DUR21142.325
WAR21141.772
LEI21140.117
SUR21140.05
HAM2114-0.674
ESS2114-3.04
DER2020-0.908
LAN2020-1.5
YOR2020-1.564
KEN2020-2.434
SUS2020-2.51
MID2020-3.278
North Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
YOR962261.215
NOT963240.213
LAN95322-0.121
DUR945160.1
DER925120.421
LEI9278-1.835
South Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
SUR963241.098
HAM963240.504
ESS954201.019
KEN94516-0.562
MID93612-1.012
SUS93610-0.964