THE PEARS had their first taste of T20 action this summer in a Seconds’ fixture against Leicestershire in preparation for their NatWest T20 Blast opener with rivals Birmingham Bears on Friday (5.30pm).
The mix of first-team regulars featured in the two-game clash with Leicestershire at New Road on Monday, to refocus their mindset for the short format before welcoming their North Group neighbours in a sell-out encounter.
Although Worcestershire went down by six wickets in the opening game and then lost the second by 38 runs, the matches provided some white ball practice after the four-day successes in the Specsavers County Championship.
Daryl Mitchell scored 51 off 29 balls in the first game, which including nine boundaries.
Joe Clarke came back into the squad after being a part of the England Lions team which drew with South Africa last week, and opened with Mitchell to put on 51 in 4.2 overs, before the latter was stumped for 20.
Skipper Joe Leach also demonstrated his rapid batting at number three, making a quick-fire 22 off 14 balls. But after he was third out at 102 in the tenth over, the innings lost momentum and Worcestershire closed on 168-9.
Charlie Morris and Pat Brown both picked up an early wicket in the Leicestershire reply, and George Scrimshaw continued his comeback from a back injury with the impressive figures of 1-21 in four overs.
In the second game, the County’s overseas player Mitchell Santner smashed two sixes in his 28 off 25 balls, but no other player passed 20 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 106 in 18.1 overs.
The County bowlers had a better game though. Kiwi Santner returned the excellent figures of 2-11 from four overs and Ben Twohig picked up 2-16 in four, whilst George Rhodes ended with three wickets as Leicestershire closed on 144-9.
Worcestershire will take part in their final T20 warm-up match before facing the Bears when they join Stourbridge CC’s 175th anniversary celebrations, playing in a T20 match against a Stourbridge Invitational XI at their Memorial Ground today (Wednesday).
