CAPTAIN Daryl Mitchell believes Moeen Ali can be Worcestershire Rapids’ “match-winner” as they bid to secure back-to-back wins in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The all-rounder has been released from England duty to play against Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road tonight (6.30pm) and Notts Outlaws at New Road tomorrow (2.30pm).

Rapids are flying high in the competition having won four out of five games and are also set to be boosted by the returns of Mitchell and New Zealand paceman Matt Henry, who have been sidelined with injury.

Moeen’s previous match for the County ended in defeat as Northamptonshire Steelbacks condemned his side to their first loss in this season’s T20.

But Mitchell is confident the 28-year-old, who recently scored an unbeaten 155 in England’s Investec Test Series against Sri Lanka, will be keen to make his mark.

“Moeen has played one, lost one in this competition, which is something the lads will be reminding him about today,” Mitchell said.

“But having Moeen back is a huge bonus. It is like having two players back as he will bat at the top of the order and bowl his off-spin as well.

“He has proven in the past he has played some match-winning innings and hopefully he can do that in at least one of the games.

“His bowling record has been very good as well and he was part of the England T20 side who got to the final of the World Cup, so he is a massive player with a lot of experience.”

Since opening their T20 campaign with victory over Durham Jets, Rapids have seen off Birmingham Bears and Yorkshire Vikings before avenging their defeat to Northamptonshire last week.

With nine games left to play in their group, Mitchell says Worcestershire are determined to claim the four wins he believes they require to clinch a quarter-final place.

“We have won four out of five, so judging by previous years you need to win eight to guarantee qualification,” he said.

“We are halfway there and two wins would stand us in really good stead going forward in this competition.

“But we need to take each game as it comes, starting today at Grace Road.”

Mitchell said he was disappointed Rapids’ Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Leicestershire was a washout on Wednesday as he revealed both himself and Henry were in line to play at New Road after completing fitness tests.

“I have had a bit of a side strain but that’s hopefully cleared up now,” he added.

“I trained on Tuesday afternoon and came through pretty well after that.

“Matt hasn’t quite got rid of it (rib injury) but he is approaching full fitness and certainly would have been in contention for the Leicestershire game, so hopefully he will be ready for these two games over the weekend.”

Rapids (from): Mitchell, Kohler-Cadmore, Moeen, Clarke, Kervezee, D’Oliveira, Whiteley, Cox, Leach, Henry, Barnard, Shantry, Russell, Rhodes.