ETHAN Brookes took four wickets in vain as Worcestershire Rapids suffered a six-wicket defeat against Yorkshire Vikings in a T20 Blast thriller at New Road.
Brookes starred with bat and ball only for the visitors to clinch victory with three balls to spare as Dawid Malan hit a stunning 93 from just 50 deliveries.
And Brookes admits injuries did not aid Worcestershire’s plan but felt the home side posted a good score after passing the 200-run mark.
Brookes said: “We came up just short but that is the nature of this game. Obviously a few injuries at the start of the day (to Kashif Ali and Adam Hose) didn’t help.
“We would have taken that score at the start of the day and it was a really good score on that wicket but credit to Malan and then Thompson at the end to get Yorkshire over the line.
“Having a depleted bowling squad meant it was always going to be difficult. Missing overs from bowlers.
“Kashif and Adam are two massive players for us, very powerful hitters, but missing them, we will take 205.
“The message from the changing room is just go and express yourself. We are out of this competition now but there is still something to prove.
“That licence to just go and have fun, and go and enjoy, it shows through. It is disappointing but that’s cricket.
“I’m pleased with my batting. I‘ve got some starts. I know what I’m good at, I trust that. The reverse sweep is something I’ve practiced quite a lot and that’s paying off. It just messes with the spinners.”
Impressive knocks from Brookes (44), Brett D’Oliveira (42), Rob Jones (35 not out) and Josh Cobb (34), the former’s coming off just 21 balls, helped the Rapids finish on 205-6.
And Brookes was the only Rapids bowler to take any wickets as the Viking punished Worcestershire’s bowlers.
Brookes finished with figures of 4-41 and took the crucial wickets of Adam Lyth (22), James Wharton (24), Donovan Ferreira (7) and Shan Masood (13).
However, Malan and Jordan Thompson (40 not out) guided the Vikings to victory with just three balls to spare.
That came after the Rapids claimed local bragging rights with a 55-run victory against T20 Blast leaders Birmingham Bears in a rain-affected game at Edgbaston.
After opener Ed Pollock fell for a duck in the first over, Ali (46) and Cobb (24) scored some quick runs.
And Brookes (30 not out) showed his class once again before Nathan Smith (33) chipped in with some useful runs.
However, Matthew Waite (36 not out) smashed a stunning 34 runs off the final over, including five sixes, to propel the Rapids to 187-6 from their 17 overs.
And Waite (4-29) then starred with the ball in reply as the Bears lost openers Alex Davies and Rob Yates for ducks to the bowling of Tom Taylor (3-31) and Cobb (1-28) respectively.
Waite then bowled Sam Hain (14) and Moeen Ali (16) before Ethan Brookes (1-21) removed Chris Benjamin (21) to leave the Bears in trouble on 100-5.
And the Rapids took three wickets in the 15th over as Taylor accounted for Jacob Bethell (7) and Zakary Foulkes (1) before then running out Dan Mousley (68).
Waite then took the final two wickets in consecutive balls as both George Garton and Jake Lintott departed without scoring as the Rapids celebrated a fine victory.
The Rapids finish their T20 Blast campaign at home to Derbyshire Falcons on Thursday, July 18 with the game to begin at 5.30pm at New Road.
