This week’s Friday Flashback takes us to July last summer, where a stunning individual performance from Ethan Brookes guided the Rapids to a comprehensive victory over Notts Outlaws.
With the Rapids Vitality Blast T20 qualification hopes hanging in the balance heading into the final round of group stage fixtures, Worcestershire welcomed Notts Outlaws to New Road, knowing only a win would suffice if they were to hold onto any chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Having already beaten the Outlaws earlier in the competition, the hosts came into the match high on confidence after a string of wins had seen the Rapids keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Although the side were unable to sneak through after a dramatic last day finish, an incredible performance from Worcestershire’s star all-rounder will live long in the memory…
With Brett D’Oliveira losing the toss and being asked to bat first under grey skies and rain in the air, the side with three changes had a big, but clear task in front of them.
Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Finch and Henry Cullen made way, as Ben Allison, Adam Hose and T20 debutant Ben Gibbon all came into the side.
D’Oliveira and Isaac started with good intent, looking to replicate Sunday’s excellent powerplay, with the latter starting in trademark fashion, blitzing 27 from 15 balls before holding out in the deep.
Kashif’s eye catching cameo was ended when he was caught at long-on for 34, trying to clear the boundary, as Hose joined the in and set D’Oliveira.
The pair sustained the 10 an over run-rate with relative comfort, running between the wickets hard and applying pressure onto the Outlaws fielders, as the Rapid’s eyed a total towards the 200 mark.
D’Oliveira was unfortunate to fall four-runs short of a fluent fifty when he was caught at short-third man having laid all the foundations in a well put together 36-ball knock.
Brookes carried on his impressive form as he played expansively, with he and Hose combining in brutal style for a 26-ball 50 partnership, with the 17th and 18th overs both going for 17-runs.
Hose fell for 33 in the penultimate over, Tom Taylor (4) came and went, before Brookes celebrated a scintillating 18-ball-50 by slamming a four through mid-wicket and depositing the very next ball out of the ground over the Basil D’Oliveira stand.
Brookes left the middle to a standing ovation when he was eventually dismissed for 57, hitting five-fours and five-sixes at a strike rate of 275, setting Visit Worcestershire New Road alight with another sparkling innings, as the Rapids finished on 206-7.
The Rapids response started in perfect fashion, with Khurram Shahzad and Tom Taylor striking inside the first three overs to leave the Outlaws 14-2.
The momentum stayed with the hosts when Ethan Brookes took the wicket of Moises Henriques with his first-ball after another well-judged catch from D’Oliveira at extra-cover, as the Outlaws were struggling to stay in the game at 49-4 in the eighth over.
Matt Montgomery set about the Rapids bowlers however with a brutal middle-order blitz, throwing momentum back into the away side’s favour as he rocketed his side to 110-4 in the eleventh over.
The Rapids reasserted their dominance when Allison (3-37), returned from the New Road End to dismiss the danger man for 47, before Brookes returned with two wickets in two balls to swing the game on its head.
First it was the dangerous Daniel Sams to depart as Isaac took a fabulous catch straight down the ground, before Liam Patterson-White left for a golden-duck as Adam Hose made no mistake with a catch at backward-point.
There was to be no poetic hat-trick, but another superb spell from the all-rounder once again reminded everyone of his importance to the Rapids side, as he returned figures of 3-30 from his four overs.
Taylor returned to end his siege for 57 in the 17th over, with a comfortable 45-run victory sealed in the penultimate over, with the clinical performance of the side recognised by a jubilant New Road crowd.
Although the Rapids would later learn their fate, with other results in the North group ending their 2025 Vitality Blast T20 campaign, the young side packed full of potential will take plenty of confidence heading into next year’s competition, with star man Brookes set to play another key role.
