Worcestershire must wait to see if they will qualify for the semi-finals of the Second Eleven Trophy after today’s seven wicket defeat against Lancashire at Barnt Green.
The Seconds have completed their North Group programme with eight points from six matches.
They are lying in second spot behind Warwickshire who moved ahead of them on net run rate after defeating Yorkshire today.
The top two from the North Group and the South Group go into the last four.
But Yorkshire, Durham and MCC Young Cricketers, who could all potentially overhaul Worcestershire if results and net run rates go in their favour, have their remaining fixtures spread over the next fortnight.
George Rhodes scored his second Trophy century in a week for the Seconds and batted throughout the innings for his 135 not out from 146 balls with one six and 17 fours.
But England Test opener Haseeb Hameed replied with 107 for Lancashire who reached a 286 target with five balls to spare.
Rhodes shared in an opening stand of 63 in 14 overs with skipper Oliver Westbury (16) who was caught behind.
Triallist Joe Barrett (1) top edged a delivery to mid on and Alex Milton (2) also nicked through to the keeper.
Ryan Tongue (23) helped Rhodes add 66 in 14 overs before being bowled.
The major partnership of the Worcestershire innings saw Rhodes and Josh Dell (66) put on 132 in 19 overs for the fifth wicket.
Rhodes completed his first half century off 73 balls but needed only another 54 to get to three figures with the aid of 13 fours.
The stand was broken when Dell, who struck one six and six boundaries in his 72 ball knock, was caught at cover.
Hameed and fellow opener Rob Jones (68) laid the platform for Lancashire’s victory with a partnership of 149 in 28.1 overs before the latter edged Ben Twohig to first slip.
Twohig bowled a tight spell and ended with figures of 10-1-41-2 while Grant Thornton only conceded 27 runs in eight overs.
But Hameed figured in further stands of 78 with the aggressive Dan Lamb, who was caught at mid wicket for 63, and 50 with JJ Bohannon (20 not out).
He was eventually caught behind, having struck two sixes and 11 fours in his 123 ball innings, with only nine needed for victory.
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WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS
Rhodes not out 135
Westbury c Yates b Bohannon 16
Barrett c Hurt b Lamb 1
Milton c Yates b Bohannon 2
Tongue b Bohannon 23
Dell c Lester b Lamb 66
Twohig not out 6
Extras 36
Total (for five wickets) 285 in 50 overs
FOW: 63, 67, 70, 136, 268
BOWLING
Hurt 9-1-60-0
Lester 9-1-48-0
Lamb 10-0-44-2
Bohannon 10-1-38-3
Balderson 5-0-36-0
Morley 7-0-42-0
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LANCASHIRE SECONDS
Jones c Rhodes b Westbury 68
Hameed c Milton b Sturgess 107
Lamb c Tongue b Twohig 63
Bohannon not out 20
Chanderpaul not out 8
Extras 22
Total (for 3 wickets) 288 in 49.1 overs
FOW: 149, 227, 277
BOWLING
Sturgess 7.1-0-38-1
Brown 8-0-70-0
Twohig 10-1-41-2
Thornton 8-0-27-0
Ul Hassan 8-0-51-0
Rhodes 8-0-53-0
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TABLE
Warwicks Played 5, Points 8, Net Run Rate 2.100
WORCS 6, 8, 0.236
Yorks 5, 6, 1.001
Northants 6, 6, -0.312
Leics 5, 5, 0.334
Durham 4, 4, 0.870
MCC YC 4, 4, -0.695
Derbys 5, 3, -1.711
Lancs 4, 2, -1.032
Notts 4, 2, -1.140
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KEY FIXTURES
May 31 – Nottinghamshire v Durham at Grantham
June 1 – Warwickshire v MCC YC at Edgbaston
June 4 – Durham v Lancashire at Emirates Riverside
June 5 – Yorkshire v MCC YC at York
*The Seconds are back in action today (Tuesday) for a three-day Championship match against Lancashire, also at Barnt Green.
Jack Haynes, former Sussex Academy and Second X1 player Nick Oxley and Tristan Blackledge come into the squad in place of George Rhodes and Pat Brown.
