MATCH PREVIEW: Worcestershire Rapids v Lancashire Lightning
The Lightning beat Worcestershire on the opening night of the competition at Emirates Old Trafford last month, the first of three successive wins.
Worcestershire Rapids v Lancashire Lightning
Vitality Blast, North Group
Friday June 13, 2025, 5.30pm
Visit Worcestershire New Road
Since then, Keaton Jennings and co have suffered two defeats, to Leicestershire and Northamptonshire on home turf. The most recent came against the Steelbacks on Sunday, by 24 runs chasing a target of 181.
Despite those reverses, they’re still well placed in the North Group.
Worcestershire, meanwhile, have played four, won two and lost two.
They beat Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last Saturday evening by 25 runs having posted an imposing 206-5.
Opposition
Worcestershire have claimed victories over Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire so far in the North Group and have suffered defeats to Lancashire and Northamptonshire.
They have a platform to build from in the early stages of the competition as they aim to finish in the top four places for quarter-final qualification.
The Rapids were champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2019. Since then, they have only reached the quarter-finals once more in five seasons and have suffered group stage exits in each of the last two seasons.
Last year, they finished eighth in the North Group.
Adam Hose with the bat (189 runs) and Jacob Duffy with the ball (seven wickets) have been their standout performers so far.
They are captained by all-rounder Brett D’Oliveira and coached by Alan Richardson. They have employed two overseas seamers in New Zealander Duffy and Australian Ben Dwarshuis.
Opposition player to watch
Adam Hose is with his third county. He debuted for Somerset across all formats, moved to Warwickshire and has spent the last two-a-half-seasons at New Road.
The tall top order batter is a regular on the franchise circuit. He has played in Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and the UAE as well as in the Hundred.
A powerful striker, he has started this season’s Blast impressively, with standout scores of 54 and 95 across four innings.
Last time out, the 32-year-old crashed that 95 off 51 balls from number four against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, hoisting six sixes.
He has scored 4,105 runs from 176 career appearances to date in T20 cricket.
Previous meeting
Lancashire beat Worcestershire by seven runs at Emirates Old Trafford a couple of Thursdays ago, getting their Blast off to the ideal start in Steven Croft’s first game in charge as interim head coach following Dale Benkenstein’s departure the day before.
Lightning captain Keaton Jennings top-scored with 66 off 38 balls in 176-8, while left-arm spinner Fateh Singh impressed with 2-23 from four overs on his career T20 debut for the Rapids.
England left-arm seamer Luke Wood, released from the ODI squad to play, then returned 2-39 from his four overs as Worcestershire, needing 15 from the last over, finished on 169-7.
Lancashire’s win was set up by Jennings and opening partner Luke Wells, the pair racing out of the blocks, sharing 79 inside the first eight overs. Wells pulled New Zealand quick Jacob Duffy for one particularly big six over midwicket in 35 off 22 balls.
In their chase, Worcestershire failed to score a boundary between the first ball of the ninth over and the first of the 16th, where they reached at 125-5, needing 52.
The Rapids later needed 28 from the last two overs and 15 from the last, which Tom Aspinwall expertly defended.
What they said
Keaton Jennings has hailed the return of Liam Livingstone to Lancashire ranks after the explosive all-rounder won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the start of last week.
Livingstone was back in Red Rose colours for Sunday’s clash with Northamptonshire at Emirates Old Trafford, taking two wickets with his spin and hitting a quick-fire 18.
Livingstone tasted victory with Phil Salt, who is currently on paternity leave, and both will have a huge role to play over the next few months if the county are going to claim their second Blast title.
Captain Jennings said: “It’s absolutely awesome (to have Livingstone back).
“It's not too often you have an IPL-winning, quote-unquote, superstar in your changing room. Liv doesn't see himself that way. He loves playing for Lancs.
“Liv is wholeheartedly a Lancashire lad. He loves playing, loves putting on a Red Rose. We love him to bits.
“And just the value he adds is huge.
“You can bounce ideas off the guys. They've been in situations 1,000 times and played in front of 125,000 people four days ago.
“And we've got other guys, Jos, Salty around the group, who are just as valuable, just as committed to Lancashire.”
How’s Stat!
Liam Livingstone is currently sat on 6,902 career T20 runs from 311 matches for all teams, including England.
When he reaches 7,000, he would become only the 13th Englishman to achieve that feat. Alex Hales leads the way on 13,698 runs. Of the 12 Englishman to pass the 7,000-mark, two of those are currently in Lancashire’s squad.
Jos Buttler has 12,794 runs to his name and Phil Salt 7,082.