Northumberland Preview: Women’s Rapids prepare for Blast off

T20 County Cup: Worcestershire Women’s Rapids v Northumberland Women

Venue: Stourbridge Road, Himley 

Date: Sunday 26th April, 2026

Scheduled start time: 11am

Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.

Keen to hit the ground running at the start of their 2026 T20 County Cup campaign, Worcestershire Women’s Rapids play host to Northumberland Women this Sunday searching for a winning start to the knockout competition.

Back on home soil for the first time this summer, Ed Wilson’s side will be looking to avenge last week’s defeat in the season opener at Hove.

After a testing start away at Sussex last week, the Rapids return to more familiar territory this week as they welcome Northumberland Women to Himley Cricket Club.

Boosted by the availability of Sanya Khurana, the Dutch International is in line to make her highly anticipated competitive debut for the Rapids this Sunday.

A star of Netherlands recent T20 World Cup Qualifying campaign, the all-rounder is set to add some valuable experience to a Worcestershire side eager for a strong start to the new knockout competition.

Elsewhere, Gwen Davies will be looking to continue her fine start to the 2026 season after registering an opening day half-century against Sussex last week.

Gough keen for Rapids to show “dynamic and adaptable” nature ahead of T20 opener

Liv Gough insists her side will bounce back against Northumberland this Sunday, as the Women’s Rapids look to open their 2026 Vitality T20 Blast account on a winning note, having suffered defeat in their season opener last Sunday at Hove.   

The young keeper batter was part of the side that went down in the opening round of the Metro Bank One Day Cup against Sussex Sharks last week, where the Rapids were put to the sword by an experienced and clinical batting display.   

However, a week on from the defeat, Gough highlighted the team’s renewed positive mindset that is driving the group forward ahead of the change of formats this weekend.   

“It was a very tough and disappointing day, especially after all the hard work we’ve put in in the off-season, we had definitely hoped for a better result.  

“One of the focuses over the winter has been creating an atmosphere where we can communicate openly and honestly as a team, so we’ve really utilised that to reflect on Sunday’s result.  

“We also made sure we picked out some positives so that we can get ourselves in the correct mindset to go again this weekend.  

“Our focus ahead of this weekend is obviously to adapt to the style of T20 cricket and be super dynamic, but to also stick to our plans both with the ball and the bat. So hopefully for a few players to go out there and put some game-winning scores on the board.”  

Having shown signs of her best with the bat towards the back end of last year, the exciting youngster has developed into a cornerstone of the Rapids side, becoming a regular fixture in Ed Wilson’s team selections.   

Playing across both white-ball formats, Gough’s impressive temperament and maturity with the bat have seen her stock rise since debuting for the Club in 2024.   

Now keen to kick on and take her game to the next level, Gough is keen to make her mark this weekend as Worcestershire look to bounce back, whilst showing her capabilities as a T20 batter in a revamped Rapids side.   

“I’m feeling good, obviously Sunday is our first T20 of the season, so it brings a different type of challenge where I will be required to be more aggressive.  

“As I touched on previously, we will require game-winning scores this weekend, so that’s what I hope to achieve with the bat, as well as obviously taking every opportunity I get behind the stumps and driving the energy of the team.  

“I definitely want to bat middle/higher in the order, but I think the key aim for myself is to be adaptable to the different demands from game situations and from the team.  

“We’ve got a very different-looking squad this year, and that will therefore require all players to be flexible.” 

Northumberland Women

Fresh off a hard-fought win last weekend against Lincolnshire Women in the Vitality Blast Women’s League Three, Northumberland will be looking to make it two wins from two in the first round of the County Cup this Sunday.

With both sides knowing it is a winner takes all contest, the visitors will be hoping to spring a shock.

Central to those hopes is bowler Jenny McDowell, who helped herself to a tidy three wicket haul in her side’s win last Sunday, whilst batters Maiya Charlesworth and Scarlett French both made significant contributions to anchor Northumberland’s successful run chase and will be looking to extend their impressive form on Sunday.