Dwayne Bravo gave a masterclass in T20 bowling for Worcestershire Rapids, but his side were outplayed and went down by 73 runs to Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.
The West Indian star demonstrated his wide range of skills during three spells, ending with the superb figures of 2-16 from four overs and was warmly applauded by supporters from both sides.
But no one else was able to stem the flow of runs, with Chris Lynn scoring 113 not out in a total of 220-3.
The Rapids never recovered from losing early wickets in reply, and only Jack Haynes (33) and Ed Barnard (42) produced innings of any substance as they were dismissed for 147 in 16.4 overs.
The Steelbacks captain, Josh Cobb, opted to bat after winning the toss.
The Rapids handed a Blast debut to all-rounder Jacques Banton in place of rested spinner Josh Baker.
The other change saw Ed Pollock, who was ruled out through illness, replaced by Jake Libby in the opening batter slot.
Banton was immediately brought into the attack – and struck with his third delivery.
Ben Curran went for a reverse sweep but only succeeded in skying a catch to Dillon Pennington over his shoulder at short third man.
Keeper Ben Cox pulled off a fine stop away to his left after Chris Lynn had inside-edged a ball from Pat Brown.
Lynn and Cobb added 115 in 10.2 overs, reaching their half-centuries off 25 and 27 balls respectively.
Bravo broke the stand when Cobb (50) holed out to captain Moeen Ali at mid off.
But Lynn continued to play aggressively and his second century in this summer’s Blast included eight sixes.
Bravo came back into the attack and checked the scoring rate at his end with a mixture of slower balls and yorkers as well as bowling Saif Zaib for 27.
When Worcestershire batted, Libby pulled the first delivery from Cobb for four but was caught at square leg off the second.
Moeen (11) aimed a shot down the ground and was bowled by Tom Taylor, and then Colin Munro (0) was given out caught behind after attempting to pull the same bowler.
Jack Haynes instantly looked in excellent touch, cover driving and lofting Taylor for boundaries and pulling Jimmy Neesham over mid-wicket to the ropes.
The Rapids reached 46-3 by the end of the powerplay.
A straight drive by Haynes – his seventh four – brought up the 50, but on 33 he was caught at long-off in Graeme White’s first over.
Brett D’Oliveira hit one of the biggest sixes of the evening over mid-wicket against Freddie Heldreich but on 22 cut Neesham to backward point.
Cox (10), lbw, and Banton (0), stumped, were dismissed from successive balls by Cobb, who then accounted for Bravo (15) at long-off.
Pennington (4) fell at cover off Tom Taylor and Barnard, having made 42 off 28 balls, flicked the ball into the hands of short fine leg to give Cobb his fifth wicket.
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