Worcestershire Rapids’ slow start proved costly, as their first innings total of 143 was chased down with relative ease by Lancashire Lightning, who inflicted a seven-wicket defeat on the hosts.
After finding themselves 46-5, the Rapids struggled to recover, as Gareth Roderick top scored with 35 further down the order in the home side’s under-par total.
In response, Tom Taylor returned the best figures, with his four over spell returning 1-26, as Lancashire’s batters benefitted from some sustained partnerships, knocking off the total in the 18th over.
The Rapid’s now look ahead to Sunday, where their next chance to get back to winning ways comes at Grace Road, against Leicestershire Foxes.
On a picturesque evening at Visit Worcestershire New Road, the Rapids returned to Vitality T20 Blast action looking to pick up where they left off after a big win over Nottinghamshire Outlaws, last time out.
Brett D’Oliveira’s delight at winning the toss and electing to bat first was short lived however, as he was removed without scoring by the ever-green James Anderson.
Soon after and the Rapids were two wickets down, as Ed Pollock was trapped LBW by returning England bowler Luke Wood.
Coming into the side in place of the injured Kashif Ali, Jake Libby was joined by the in-form Adam Hose, as the pair looked to stabilise proceedings for the hosts.
Libby, started quickly, showing promise as he launched Anderson into car park over midwicket for six amongst the opening exchanges.
His repost was short-lived however, as he fell victim to a sensational catch by Jack Blatherwick in the deep, as his full-length dive and stunning one-handed grab saw him dismiss the Rapids’ number three for 15.
The problems worsened for the home side, as Ethan Brookes (10) and Adam Hose (15), fell in successive balls, to leave Worcestershire 46-5 at the start of the seventh over.
Under pressure, Gareth Roderick came together with Australian Ben Dwarshuis, as the pair looked to remain positive despite the cluster of top-order wickets.
Dwarshuis, once again displayed his capabilities with the bat with some swashbuckling attacking shots, while Roderick continued to rotate the strike through the middle overs.
Their partnership of 46 looked to be steering the Rapids towards a somewhat competitive score, but as the duo looked to step up through the gears, Dwarshuis failed to connect with a pull shot and was caught out by Chris Green for a well made 21 off 19 deliveries.
The 100 was brought up in the 14th over, shortly before Matthew Waite (4) was caught off Jack Blatherwick’s bowling, as the Rapids were reduced to 106-7.
Roderick’s admirable innings of 35, that included four boundaries, was ended prematurely when he was caught in the deep, and Anderson collected his third wicket of the evening when Fateh Singh was dismissed in the same fashion during the final over of his spell.
Some lusty blows from Jacob Duffy (24), added some much-needed impetus for his side, as the Rapids finished their innings 143 all out.
Defending a modest score, the Rapids started in ideal fashion when Tom Taylor (1-26) picked up the wicket of the dangerous Luke Wells, in his second over.
The away side gathered momentum quickly however as Jennings and Hurst began to cut loose.
Jacob Duffy thought he had the Rapids’ second wicket of the contest, when he had Jennings caught at mid-off, only for the umpire to give the batter a reprieve when he signalled for a no-ball.
Worcestershire’s bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough, as the settled Lightning pair brought up their fifty partnership in the seventh over.
Fateh Singh looked to spark something for his side, as Lancashire took control of the contest at 71-1.
The breakthrough came before long however, as Ben Dwarshuis hurried Matty Hurst (28) with a short ball, that he could only help on its way to Jacob Duffy, who took a smart sliding catch at deep-square leg.
Worcestershire capitalised and soon claimed their third scalp, when Keaton Jennings feathered a Matthew Waite bouncer through to Gareth Roderick and departed for 42, with Lancashire 84-3.
Liam Livingstone blitzed a quick fire 41* to ease his side home in the end, running out seven wicket winners on a disappointing evening for the Rapids.
