WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids have re-signed Colin Munro as their overseas player for the 2015 NatWest T20 Blast.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes hailed the “dangerous and devastating” qualities of the New Zealand batsman.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a successful first campaign at New Road in helping the Rapids reach their second T20 Blast quarter-final in three seasons.

Munro finished as their second highest scorer in the competition behind skipper Daryl Mitchell with 332 runs at an average of 27.67 and a top score of 65 in the away win over Derbyshire Falcons.

His improvisation against the spinners and big hitting ability were key components in the Rapids line-up last summer.

But Munro also fitted well into the County dressing room and was a popular figure with his team-mates and spectators.

Rhodes is delighted to have acquired Munro’s services for a second campaign.

He said: “I’m delighted that Colin is coming back. To be the second overseas player, as the T20 player, takes a special breed.

“You don’t play a lot of cricket and have quite a bit of time on the sidelines for a T20 hit once a week.

“You need the right type of cricketer for that, one that has an understanding of the club and dressing room and Colin has got that. He is well liked in the dressing room and well respected.

“He was very helpful towards our second team players and played in the second XI to make sure he kept in nick.

“In that sense, he is going to be a terrific signing for us.

“Colin is also going to be a terrific signing because he is a very dangerous and devastating player in T20 cricket.

“In T20 cricket, the way he can disrupt a spinner, and therefore disrupt the pattern and game-plan of the opposition, is a really effective ploy for us.

“He is a powerful hitter of the ball as well and gives us, along with a few other boundary hitters, some real potency.”

Munro said: “I said when I left last summer that I’d love to come back and play for Worcestershire again.

“It was an awesome experience. It was a great year for the club with getting promotion in the LV= County Championship and in the T20 Blast we claimed some good scalps.

“To beat Notts at Trent Bridge was a huge scalp and gave us belief and also to beat Northants, the then-holders twice, and Warwickshire at home were also great nights.

“The boys made me feel part of the dressing room and part of the team.

“Even the crowd took to me as one of their own and I’m looking forward to coming back with the family.

“The lads showed what they can do and I think we can go on to bigger and better things.”

Munro has enjoyed a successful season back home in New Zealand and helped Auckland reach the final of the Ford Trophy 50-over competition with a succession of half-centuries.