Worcestershire Rapids will keep 'nice and level-headed' after defeat

Despite the defeat, the Rapids remain top of the North Group standings with four wins from their opening five matches of the competition.

And coach Kadeer Ali was keen to stress that the side will not get too carried away with wins or losses and that focus switches to the two away games this week.

READ MORE | Report: Rapids beaten in the Blast for the first time in 2023

"It is going to be tough to win all 14 games in any competition. We are just going to keep nice and level-headed," he said.

Assistant coach Kadeer Ali gave his thoughts on Rapids' defeat to Northamptonshire Steelbacks (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

"Even when we won the first four games, we were nice and grounded. The lads were disappointed we did not win, but we move on to the next game on Wednesday.

"There were so many positives, so many good things we can take from this game with the bat and the ball."

The Rapids had been in a strong position to go and win the game, with the Steelbacks needing 14 off the final over.

But Saif Zaib hit two sixes and a four off Pat Brown to secure a six-wicket win with two balls to spare. 

Brett D'Oliveira cut a frustrated figure at the close (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

"It was a fantastic game of cricket and it took a special knock there from Saif to take it away from us.

"The lads who batted said there was a little bit in the wicket and the new ball was tricky so we thought we had a decent score on the board (178/6).

"We were pretty happy at the halfway stage and after the powerplay they were 45-1, and we would have taken that.

"But Saif’s striking at a rate of 200 was a special knock.

"There was one chance that went up into the sun that Mitchell (Santner) didn’t see, and there was a dropped catch the very next ball.

"It would have been nice to have taken our chances but going to the last over needing 15 to win, you are still massively in the game, and two sixes in two balls have massively swung it their way."