Worcestershire Rapids are still well on course to reach the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup after finally surrendering their proud unbeaten record for the campaign.
Skipper Joe Leach's side are lying in second spot in the North Group ahead of tomorrow's mouth-watering derby clash with Warwickshire at New Road (11am start).
Yesterday's setback against Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford was Worcestershire's first in all competitions this season and they were the last side of the 18 first class counties to be beaten this summer.
The Rapids conclude their group programme with three matches in five days – home to Warwickshire and then Durham Jets (Sunday) and away to Derbyshire Falcons (Tuesday).
There is so much to play for with the top team in each group securing a semi-final home tie.
Then the second team in the North Group will take on the third team in the South Group and the runners-up in the South Group will face the third placed side in the North Group for the other two last four spots.
Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes is anticipating a testing battle with Warwickshire despite their current bottom placing in the North Group.
He said: "We had two great wins in the T20 last year against them, we want to do that in the 50 overs competition as well.
"They are a strong outfit. I know they've had some problems this year but they are just as likely to come out and produce a really big performance against us.
"Like all these matches we do play, we've got to make sure we do the basics well, start well and keep that confidence high."
Rhodes has kept faith with the same 12 players selected for Old Trafford – the 11 who played plus Jack Shantry.
Rapids:
Kohler-Cadmore
Moeen Ali
Mitchell
Clarke
D'Oliveira
Cox
Whiteley
Barnard
Leach
Hastings
Tongue
Shantry
—–
NORTH GROUP
Yorks Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1, Tied 0, No result 0, Pts 10, Net Run Rate 1.136
RAPIDS 5, 3, 1, 1, 0, 7, -0.203
Notts 5, 3, 2, 0, 0, 6, -0.177
Durham 5, 3, 1, 0, 5, 0.634
Derbys 5, 2, 2, 0, 1, 5, -0.019
Lancs 5, 2, 3, 0, 0, 4, 0.284
Leics 5, 2, 3, 0, 0, 4, -0.182
Northants 6, 1, 4, 1, 0, 3, -0.720
Warks 6, 1, 5, 0, 0, 2, -0.704
