Mitchell Santner produced a fine all-round performance as Worcestershire Rapids overcame Lancashire Lightning by seven wickets to further lift their hopes of reaching the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.
The New Zealand all-rounder finished with 2-19 from his four overs as Lancashire were restricted to 164-8.
He then set the Rapids on their way to a sixth win of the campaign by smashing 49 off just 27 deliveries.
But there were many other excellent efforts with bat and ball as Worcestershire sealed victory with more than two overs to spare.
Pat Brown picked up three more wickets – including two in the powerplay to help reduce Lancashire to 38-4 – and he now has 19 this season in the competition.
Dillon Pennington’s opening three over burst was also impressive and Josh Tongue came back to dismiss Jos Buttler (74) and Lightning captain Liam Livingstone in the penultimate over.
Then with the bat, Jack Haynes showed his quality and class during a partnership of 81 in eight overs with Santner.
He reached a fine half century from 38 balls before Adam Hose continued his impressive form.
Livingstone opted to bat after the toss but his side ran into early trouble.
Phil Salt hit the second ball of the innings over the mid wicket boundary but it was his only scoring stroke.
He went for another legside hit against Pennington and skied a catch to Usama Mir at cover.
Santner shared the new ball and also made a breakthrough as Luke Wells attempted a reverse sweep and was lbw.
Dane Vilas survived a caught and bowled chance but it did not prove a costly miss as Brown struck twice in the final over of the powerplay.
Vilas pulled Brown to Ed Pollock at mid wicket and the next delivery accounted for
Daryl Mitchell as he nicked a ball of extra bounce through to keeper Ben Cox
Lancashire were then 38 for four but Buttler and Rob Jones batted sensibly although they found it difficult to force the pace against the spinners.
At first they were content to work the ball around against the Rapids spinners but gradually accelerated.
Butler followed up his half century in Lancashire’s win over Worcestershire at Blackpool by completing a 40-ball fifty with his fifth boundary.
Santner broke a 98 run stand when Jones attempted a reverse sweep and only found the hands of Ed Pollock on the cover boundary.
Tongue then dismissed Buttler and Livingstone in an action packed penultimate over.
Butler’s fine knock ended on 74 when he holed out to cover and then Livingstone, who surprisingly held himself back until there were only 10 balls remaining, smashed his first two deliveries for maximums.
After a no ball, Livingstone carved the third legitimate ball he faced into the safe hands of Brown at deep cover.
There was time for Brown to pick up his third wicket as Luke Wood found long on.
Jones held onto a diving catch at cover to dismiss D’Oliveira in Jack Blatherwick’s first over but Santner and Haynes took the game away from the Lightning during a stand of 81 in eight overs.
Santner was particularly aggressive, striking Livingstone and Wells for maximums and there were also five boundaries in his 49 before he backed away to try and cut Wood and only feathered through to Buttler.
Haynes then took over the mantle of chief aggressor and a regal cover drive off Tom Hartley enabled him to complete his half century.
With Adam Hose also in good nick, the Rapids were on the verge of victory when Haynes holed out to backward square leg of Blatherwick. His knock contained four sixes and two fours.
Rapids are next in action at home on Thursday evening in another important game against the Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Tickets can be bought by clicking here.
