WORCESTERSHIRE Women’s Rapids launched their first ECB T20 County Championship Division One campaign with two exciting games at Edgbaston Foundation Ground.

Promoted Rapids went down by seven runs to Warwickshire and were involved in a thrilling tie with Surrey.

They put Warwickshire into bat and the their rivals totalled 148-4 with openers Gwenan Davies (40) and Ria Fackrell (41) putting on 81.

Rapids' bowlers reined in their opponents with Emily Arlott (1-23), Izzy Watson (1-30) and Lauren Rowles (1-3) taking wickets plus the run-out of top scorer Fackrell.

Openers Chloe Hill and Rowles also got off to a flier in reply with an opening stand of 57.

Hill hit 33 off 20 balls with seven fours and Rowles 16 off 13 before Clare Boycott (38 not out off 43) continued the good work.

She added 38 for the third wicket with Rachel Howells (22) and Rapids were left needing nine off the final over from Georgia Davis.

But Watson was caught at long-on close to the boundary as Rapids closed on 141-8.

In game two Rapids were well on top after Surrey elected to bat, reducing their opponents to 46-6.

Boycott (2-22), Issy Wong (2-23) and Watson (2-17) did the damage but an unbroken 71 between Amy Gordon (31no) and Kira Chathli (30no) lifted Surrey to 117-6.

Hill (29 off 28) and Rowles (16 off 17) put on 35 for the first wicket for Rapids.

Two quick wickets left them on 80-4 but Boycott (36no off 44 with four boundaries) and Victoria King (16no) earned a share of the points.

Head coach Sam Wyles said: “We knew when we got promoted to Division One last year that there were going to be no easy games.

“This was a big step-up and we settled in really well. Both matches were very close, it shows how good we were that I am actually disappointed we couldn’t get over the line in at least one game.

“The whole team contributed during both matches which was very pleasing. We just need to learn to be more clinical when we are on top and impose ourselves.”

Rapids are next in T20 action on Sunday against Middlesex and Lancashire at Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground.