Alex Hepburn produced two fine all-round performances for Worcestershire Seconds but was on the losing side in two tightly contested Second Eleven T20 matches with Durham Seconds at Chester le Street.
Hepburn scored 47 not out and 37 not out to twice help lead a Worcestershire recovery and his medium pace produced figures of 2-23 and 4-14.
But Durham won the opening game by three wickets and, in an even more exciting second match, triumphed by one wicket after former England paceman Graham Onions hit a six off the final delivery from Darrel Williams.
In Game One Worcestershire were in trouble at 49-4 against an attack containing Onions and Paul Coughlin who played in last week's LV = County Championship clash at New Road.
But Hepburn and George Rhodes (44) ensured a competitive total via a fifth wicket stand of 96 in 12 overs.
Rhodes struck two sixes and two fours in his 36 ball knock before he was dismissed at deep mid on in the final over.
Hepburn's knock from 42 deliveries contained four fours.
Durham lost wickets at regular intervals but were up with the required rate and eventually triumphed with 10 balls to spare.
Worcestershire again lost early wickets when batting first in Game Two and this time were 40-4 before Alexei Kervezee and Hepburn led a recovery.
Kervezee hit 54 off 38 balls with two sixes and three fours and added 79 in nine overs with Hepburn whose 32 ball knock contained four boundaries as Worcestershire totalled 136-5.
Hepburn then removed the first four batsmen in the Durham line-up and then skipper Shaaiq Choudhry weighed in with three wickets.
Worcestershire looked favourites after Durham lost their ninth wicket at 118.
But Onions, who added 95 for the 10th wicket with Scott Borthwick in the LV= CC clash at New Road, hit a six off Kervezee in the penultimate over and, with five needed off the final delivery from Williams, lofted the ball over the long on boundary.
GAME ONE
Worcestershire 2nds
Kohler-Cadmore c Hickey b Onions 13
D'Oliveira c Burnham b Onions 10
Kervezee b Coughlin 10
Choudhry c Harrison b McCarthy 16
Hepburn not out 47
Rhodes c Burnham b McCarthy 44
Hill not out 1
Extras 9
Total (for 5 wickets) 150 in 20 overs
FOW: 21, 26, 38, 49, 145
Bowling: Onions 2-24, Coughlin 1-10, McCarthy 2-30
Durham 2nds
Clark c Choudhry b Hepburn 15
Hickey c D'Oliveira b Tindale 16
Richardson c Wade b Kervezee 5
Burnham b Choudhry 34
Poynter c Hepburn b Williams 29
Coughlin c Hepburn b Williams 12
Bousfield b Hepburn 14
McCarthy not out 8
Harrison not out 1
Extras 8
Total (for 7 wickets) 152 in 18.2 overs
FOW: 22, 27, 54, 109, 119, 133, 145
Bowling
Kervezee 2-0-10-1
Tindale 2-0-32-1
Hepburn 3.2-0-23-2
Wade 2-0-21-0
Choudhry 4-0-23-1
D'Oliveira 1-0-15-0
Williams 4-0-23-2
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GAME TWO
Worcestershire 2nds
D'Oliveira c McCarthy b Buckley 0
Rhodes b McCarthy 15
Kohler-Cadmore c Buckley b Onions 8
Kervezee c Burnham b Harrison 54
Choudhry c Richardson b Buckley 3
Hepburn not out 37
Hill not out 9
Extras 10
Total (for 5 wickets) 136 in 20 overs
FOW: 2, 18, 34, 40, 119
Bowling: Buckley 2-21, Harrison 1-21, Onions 1-16, McCarthy 1-29.
Durham 2nds
Clark c Choudhry b Hepburn 9
Hickey c Rhodes b Hepburn 22
Richardson c Butler b Hepburn 3
Burnham c Rhodes b Hepburn 13
Poynter b Choudhry 44
Budge c Choudhry b Williams 5
Bousfield c and b Choudhry 13
McCarthy c Kervezee b D'Oliveira 6
Harrison lbw McCarthy 0
Buckley not out 4
Onions not out 15
Extras 4
Total (for 9 wickets) 138 in 20 overs.
FOW:30, 36, 37, 56, 68, 98, 111, 111, 118
Bowling
Kervezee 2-0-18-0
Hill 1-0-12-0
Wade 2-0-10-0
Hepburn 4-0-14-4
Choudhry 4-0-23-3
D'Oliveira 4-0-27-1
Williams 3-0-31-1
