Brett D'Oliveira powered Worcestershire Rapids to a memorable five wcket win in the Natwest T20 Blast derby with Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston.
D'Oliveira smashed a 30 ball half century to follow up an excellent performance with the ball as the Rapids won by five wickets with five balls to spare after reaching their 156 target.
He finished unbeaten on 62 and ended the game with a straight six off Oliver Hannon-Dalby as the Rapids maintained their unbeaten start in the competition.
D'Oliveira continued the superb form he has shown with the bat in the Specsavers County Championship so far this season.
But he also made a key contribution with the ball along with Ed Barnard in returning superb figures of 1-17 and 1-14 respectively.
Alexei Kervezee's quickfire 40 should also not be under-estimated in its importance to the Rapids run chase.
It was the perfect tonic for the Rapids after the disappointment of Mitchell Santner being ruled out of the remainder of the campaign with a finger injury.
Rapids skipper Daryl Mitchell won the toss and put the Bears into bat in front of a rapidly filling Edgbaston.
Barnard made good ground but could not hold onto a swirling catch at third man offered by Ian Bell on 13 off Joe Leach.
Bell and Sam Hain put on 50 but then the latter swung across the line against Jack Shantry after making 24 and was bowled in the sixth over.
Barnard made a second breakthrough when Kervezee pulled off a stunning catch above his head at deep mid wicket to dismiss Will Porterfield for 12.
D'Oliveira came into the attack after the powerplay and was unable to cling onto a fierce drive from Bell on 37.
But in the same over the spinner trapped Laurie Evans lbw for two.
D'Oliveira, who was the Rapids most economical bowler in the T20 Blast last season, bowled his four overs straight through to telling effect.
Luke Ronchi survived a caught and bowled chance to Barnard before he had scored.
Bell went to a run a ball half century with four fours and a six in the 16th over in which the Bears also brought up their 100.
He eventually holed out to D'Oliveira at long off off Joe Leach after making 66 off 57 deliveries.
Ronchi made 21 off 15 balls but then drilled Leach to Kervezee on the cover boundary.
Mark Adair, on his T20 Blast debut, was run out by Kervezee's throw from mid wicket for five attempting a second run in the final over from Henry.
Ateeq Javid then was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at long on off Henry for eight as the Bears closed on 155-7
When the Rapids began their reply Kohler-Cadmore (8), last week's century-maker, drove the first ball in T20 Blast cricket from Adair to Bell at cover.
Joe Clarke (6) was on the receiving end of a spectacular one handed catch at mid wicket by Evans off Recordo Gordon.
Mitchell, who faced only nine balls during the powerplay, made 15 from 12 balls before he edged Boyd Rankin through to Ronchi.
D'Oliveira collected the first six of the innings over mid wicket off Jeetan Patel.
Kervezee looked in good touch and made an accomplished 40 off 29 balls but was then bowled by Javid with the total 98-4 in the 13th over.
D'Oliveira struck a full toss from Javid over mid wicket for six to leave the Rapids wanting 37 from the final five overs.
The all-rounder then cut, leg glanced and cover drove Rankin for three fours in an over.
He completed a brilliant half century off 30 balls with two sixes and four fours.
With the scores level, Ross Whiteley was bowled by Gordon for a typically aggressive 23 before D'Oliveira ended the match in the grand manner.
