WORCESTERSHIRE Women’s Rapids are top of their group in the ECB County Championship Division Three after a 114-run success over Shropshire at Chester Road ground.

Rapids have now won three of their opening four games and amassed 59 points – five more than nearest challengers Leicestershire and Rutland – to give themselves a chance of promotion.

Worcestershire won the toss and posted 249-6 from their 50 overs with half centuries from Clare Boycott and Rachel Howells and then bowled out their opponents for 135 in 36.5 overs with Izzy Watson producing a five-wicket haul.

Issy Wong, with 49 off 65 balls, and Boycott, 53 from 79 deliveries with eight boundaries, added 66 for the fourth wicket to take the total to 129-4.

Howells came to the middle at that juncture and provided some real acceleration in making an unbeaten 64 off just 54 balls with 11 fours.

Ellie Fleck (16) provided Howells with useful support on her debut for Rapids during a sixth-wicket stand of 46 and then Emily Arlott (14 not out) helped her add an unbroken 40 for the seventh wicket.

Rapids bowlers quickly established a grip they never relinquished with only Ashleigh Heath, who had earlier picked up three wickets, offering much resistance with 32.

Watson finished with figures of 10-2-29-5 and, but for 47 wides being conceded, the victory margin would have been even more convincing.

Rapids will next be in action on Sunday when they take on Staffordshire at Kidderminster and will be looking to avenge their only defeat in the competition.

Coach Sam Wyles said: “After we lost to Staffordshire, I said that it’s knockout cricket for us.

"We have put ourselves in a good position with this win, so it’s just about keeping that consistency going until the job is done.

“Rachel has been a brilliant addition to our squad. She’s a top fielder and probably needed that big performance with the bat to get her going.

“Issy was unlucky not to get a half century, as she batted really well. She’s deceptively quick with the ball too.”