Steelbacks rescued by rapids as alarming collapse T20 continues

The Steelbacks were eviscerated by the Worcestershire Rapids at the County Ground on Friday night as the T20's downfall continued unsustainably.

The Rapids ran to their 188 victory target with 41 balls to win, won by nine wickets. After the opening, Martin Guptill was cheered by some Steelbacks fans by beating 102 balls by just 38.

Guptill's was the fastest of the season in the Vitality Blast, surpbading Dan's efforts Christian against the Northants.

Ian Bell and Calum MacLeod also hit hundreds against the county in this competition.

Joe Clarke, like Guptill, enjoyed his night in Northampton, finishing undefeated on 61 against 33 balls. 19659003] This was the worst display of the batch for the Steelbacks, who have now failed to win any of their seven games in this season's Vitality Blast, losing six of them.

They shi There was a gargantuan amount of almost every match, with a bowling attack that endured misery on misery.

And the champions of 2013 and 2016 are now all out of Blast with half of the competition playing.

Worcestershire After a slight rain delay, they had chosen to throw the ball first, keeping things very tight in the opening first

Richard Levi, the Steelbacks striker, did not late to get into the fray

. The South African took a liking to Luke Wood, hitting two fours and two six from the third round.

Ben Duckett also looked in touch as he headed for 25, but he had to leave the last ball of the match. The Steelback finished the first six overs on 54 for one and they had to lose Levi 14 balls later as English star Moeen Ali was brought into the attack and had him catch at the 39th point.

The innings were He began to stutter for the Steelbacks and when Josh Cobb attempted to revive the home game, he was caught up to the limit by Ed Barnard of Brett D'Oliveira for seven

The spinners had their say for the Rapids and Kyle Coetzer could only do six before being fired by Ali.

But Alex Wakely tried to retaliate, helping the Steelbacks to take 15 points on the same goal in which Coetzer came back on the sidelines.

However, Wakely's sleeves It was not long enough for the side of the house as he was caught and bumped by Barnard for 28.

That left the Steelbacks fighting on 118 for five before Steven Crook and Seekkuge Prasanna started walking on the accelerator. He braked by making Prasanna stop at the limit of 12 and Barnard caught him for a quick shot 33.

Rory Kleinveldt was introduced in a typically powerful but colorful cameo way ended when he was overthrown by Wood. for 15 five-ball

Nathan Buck hit a four before being made by Brown's short ball in the finished final and the innings ended with two points from Richard Gleeson.

The Rapids response started with 13 of the first, played by Kleinveldt, and Gleeson, playing his first white ball game of the season, then made his bowling return.

His pace disturbed pbading drummers and after conceding just wide, he saw the last ball But Worcestershire then found its marks by hitting the blade relentlessly as the Steelbacks began to suffer serious damage.

Gleeson's second rose to 22 and Steelbacks rescuers. He continued at the end of the power play while Rapids finished the first six overtaking on mountainous terrain of 97 lossless.

The punishment continued and the display of the abject battlefield was summed up when Prasanna took a ball but carried the ball over the boun. Daryl without knowing where the rope was.

Guptill eventually reaches a ton from just 36 balls, winning a standing ovation.

And most members of the crowd got on their feet when he left, caught by Cobb In the last 23 deliveries, Clarke continued his half-century and Travis Head finished the job, breaking a six to seal a huge victory for the opposing team.

Shoes: Levi, Duckett (wk), Cobb, Wakely (c), Coetzer, Crook, Prasanna, Kleinveldt, White, Buck, Gleeson

Worcestershire Rapids: Guptill, Head, Clarke, Ali (c), Oliveira, Cox, Whiteley, Barnard, Wood, Brown, Carter.