WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids finished their T20 Blast campaign with a final ball defeat against Derbyshire Falcons at New Road.
Despite a career-best T20 Blast score from Ed Pollock and promising displays from young Rapids bowlers Jack Home and Harry Darley, Worcestershire just fell short on home turf.
Pollock top scored with 67 runs from just 47 deliveries only for Derbyshire to score the 14 runs required from the last over and secure a final ball victory.
Pollock said: “At the start of the day, with the amount of injuries we’ve had over the past week we came here going ‘can we snatch a win?’
“I think as the game went on we were thinking ‘can we win this’ and we will look back at this as maybe one we could have won.
“Despite all the injuries, we’ve run them really close, a very good side.
“It is about time I stood up (with the bat). I think it is two years since I got a score for Worcestershire.
“I’ve got a hell of a lot of runs in the bank to score but it was nice to get out there. I’ve been up and down the order but I got my chance at the top.
“It hasn’t quite gone my way in this competition but it was a bit of a silver lining to get that score and show what I can do.”
Derbyshire won the toss and decided to bowl against a Rapids side missing eight players through injury.
Former Rapids bowler Pat Brown (4-23) removed opener Brett D’Oliveira (6) in his first over before he also claimed the wicket of Josh Cobb (14).
The home side continued to make steady progress with the bat before Gareth Roderick (20) was caught and bowled by Falcons captain Samit Patel (1-41).
And Ethan Brookes (30) took the Rapids past the 100-run mark while Pollock reached his half-century in 37 balls after hitting seven fours.
Brookes fell to Zak Chappell (2-28) and he also brought an end to Pollock’s fine knock a couple of overs later as the Rapids finished on 169-8.
In reply, young bowler Home (1-33) claimed his first scalp with the wicket of Aneurin Donald (28).
And fellow youngster Darley (2-26) also struck in his first over when Luis Reece (9) fell to a fine catch by Jake Libby at cover before later removing David Lloyd (14).
D’Oliveira (1-25) then claimed the wicket of Patel (10) while Brookes (1-24) bowled Wayne Madsen (44) to leave the Falcons on 113-5 in the 16th over.
However, Ross Whiteley smashed 41 runs off 22 balls, supported by Alex Thomson (17 not out), as the Rapids ended their T20 Blast campaign with a defeat.
