BRETT D’Oliveira starred with the bat as Worcestershire Rapids claimed a five-wicket win against Lancashire Lightning with three balls to spare.
D’Oliveira’s fine 61 off 47 balls included seven boundaries and set the Rapids on their way to chasing down a total of 170 as the county claimed their first T20 Blast win of the season.
Useful knocks from Matthew Waite (29), Adam Hose (23) and Ed Pollock (16 not out) eventually helped the Rapids secure victory in the final over.
That came after Worcestershire won the toss and elected to field as the home side made an electric start with the ball.
Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon and George Bell both fell to the bowling of Nathan Smith (2-32) in the first over of the match without scoring a run.
And Tom Taylor (2-47) then bowled Tom Bruce (0) to leave Lancashire in trouble on 13-3.
Captain D’Oliveira took the crucial wicket of Lancashire opener Luke Wells (34) before Taylor trapped Matthew Hurst (45) LBW with Lightning on 110-5.
Steven Croft (52) and Chris Green (31) scored some quickfire runs in the final few overs to leave Worcestershire needing a modest 170 for victory.
And D’Oliveira led by example as he put on 55 runs for the first wicket alongside Waite (29) before the latter fell to the bowling of Mitchell Stanley (1-17).
Further contributions from Josh Cobb (13), Hose and Ethan Brookes (10) edged the Rapids closer to the required total as Hose hit three sixes in his nine-ball innings.
D’Oliveira eventually departed with Worcestershire on 148-5 as Pollock and Taylor (13 not out) guided the Rapids to victory with three balls remaining.
Worcestershire continue their T20 Blast campaign against Notts Outlaws on Thursday, June 6 with the game to begin at 6.30pm at Trent Bridge.
