Nathan Smith hit his maiden T20 fifty as Worcestershire Rapids stormed back in impressive fashion to defeat Notts Outlaws by 20 runs in a Vitality Blast encounter at Trent Bridge.
The New Zealander came to the wicket at 58-6 and raced to his half century from just 33 balls.
He was given excellent support by stand-in captain Adam Hose, deputising for the injured Brett D’Oliveira (shoulder injury), as the Rapids recovered to a respectable 154-8.
Then Smith, Tom Taylor and Adam Finch bowled superbly in the powerplay to pick up three wickets and put Notts on the back foot.
The home side were prevented from gaining any momentum and closed on 134-7 as the Rapids claimed a second win in three games.
Worcestershire made one change from the side which defeated Lancashire Lightning and It meant a Rapids debut for Rob Jones in place of D’Oliveira.
Hose called correctly at the toss and opted to bat first and Ed Pollock and Matthew Waite smashed 25 off the opening two overs.
Pollock hit the first two balls of the innings from Ben Lister to the boundary and then top edged Dillon Pennington for six over the keeper.
Waite collected two fours off Pennington before the opening pair were dismissed in Ollie Stone’s first over.
Waite (11) was caught off a skier and Pollock (16) lost his middle stump aiming a blow on the leg side.
Josh Cobb collected a couple of boundaries before he fell in the final over of the powerplay at deep mid wicket off Pennington.
Ethan Brookes (5) was run out attempting a second run after sweeping Calvin Harrison to the short boundary.
Debutant Jones (1) pulled Lister and perished on the fine leg boundary and Taylor (2) went for a big hit against Harrison and was bowled.
But then came the rescue act from 58-6 by Hose and Smith during a partnership of 82.
Smith was the dominant partner after moving into his stride with successive boundaries off Matt Montgomery and then striking Lyndon James straight down the ground for six.
But Hose provided excellent support and also demonstrated his power when hitting Pennington for a maximum over mid wicket.
Eighteen runs came off the 17th over, from Stone, but the partnership was broken when Hose was bowled by lister.
Smith brought up his half century off 33 balls with two sixes and five fours before Hayden Walsh (6) fell at long on in the final over from James.
Worcestershire needed early wickets and they reduced their opponents to 30-3 by the end of the powerplay.
Taylor picked up the wicket of Notts captain, Joe Clarke, when he held onto a return catch and then Alex Hales hit Smith straight to Brookes on the square leg boundary.
Finch came into the attack and trapped Jack Haynes lbw with a yorker.
Matt Montgomery and Will Young added 44 but then two wickets fell in an over from Taylor.
Montgomery holed out at extra cover and then Taylor deflected Lyndon James straight drive onto the stumps at the non striker’s end with Young out of his ground.
It became 90-6 when James lofted Walsh straight to Jones at deep mid wicket and Harrison was run out by Hose’s throw to Gareth Roderick trying to get back into his ground off Taylor.
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