WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes said he was thrilled to see his team maintain the winning habit against local rivals Birmingham Bears.
The Rapids pushed themselves closer to the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast after a dominant display saw them beat their closest rivals in county cricket by eight wickets at a packed New Road on Friday.
The win kept Worcestershire top of the competition’s North Division and was the team’s sixth straight win on the bounce following wins against Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Durham and Derbyshire in recent weeks.
Worcestershire’s players can now enjoy a week’s break before they host Nottinghamshire next Friday (June 27) in search of another win.
And Rhodes said he was delighted to see his confident side extend their winning run especially after having concerns it may come to an end before a ball was bowled.
“I was a bit worried about this game because we had such a good run of wins and I knew this was the last one before we could have a bit of a break,” he said.
“They have put in so much effort and you’re always thinking possibly is it one too many.
“In such a crucial game, tough opposition and obviously a local derby – for us to dismantle them in the manner which we did just astounded me really how we’ve done it. I think it’s testament to a lot of things but the confidence the guys have got.
“I was totally delighted the way we bowled and fielded and I thought Daryl (Mitchell) captained really well as well. The plans we came up with worked a treat.”
And Rhodes paid tribute to spinner Saeed Ajmal who only conceded ten runs in his allotted four overs in Friday’s clash and all-rounder Colin Munro who continues to impress in a Rapids shirt.
“He’s (Ajmal) been suffering the last month with really bad hayfever but credit to him – he’s not missed a game and has bowled well nearly every time he’s been out there for us in all formats.
“But also in this T20 we’ve got a terrific overseas player in Colin Munro. When we saw him in Abu Dhabi and what he could do in T20 cricket it was a quick decision for us to say we wanted him in our set up.
“I think he’s proven to be quite a favourite in this format for Worcestershire.”