WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids saw their T20 Blast campaign come to an end following a 78-run defeat against Somerset in their final group game.
Somerset bowled the Rapids out for 116 with Worcestershire chasing 195 for victory and a place in the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast at Taunton.
The match proved a straight shootout between the two teams with the winner to head through to the quarter-finals.
A half-century from Will Smeed and an explosive knock from Thomas Rew saw Somerset post an imposing total despite three wickets from Matthew Waite.
The Rapids made a strong start in reply but only one of the side’s middle and lower order batters reached double figures as the club’s campaign ended at the group stage.
Worcestershire won the toss and decided to bowl only for Smeed (52) and T Rew (42) to combine for a 75-run first-wicket stand.
Waite (3-39) bowled T Rew to break up the partnership in the sixth over after the Somerset opener blasted four fours and four sixes in an entertaining 19-ball knock.
And Tom Taylor (1-41) eventually accounted for Smeed who recorded a half-century in 31 balls while James Rew (28) and Lewis Gregory (28) both added useful runs.
Usama Mir (2-28) chipped in with two wickets while Ben Allison (1-34) also claimed a scalp as Somerset closed on 194-7 at the end of their 20 overs.
The Rapids made a steady if unspectacular start as openers Isaac Mohammed (17) and Henry Cullen (18) looked to score quick runs.
However, both openers fell in quick succession as T20 skipper Gareth Roderick (39) top scored for the Rapids.
Former Blast captain Brett D’Oliveira (8), Kashif Ali (6) and Beyers Swanepoel (6) all fell for single figures before Roderick departed in the 14th over with the Rapids on 107-6.
Only Waite (11) reached double figures outside of Worcestershire’s top order as Riley Meredith (3-17) bowled Adam Finch (0) for a four-ball duck to bring an end to the contest.
Jack Leach (3-20) and Daniel Sams (2-12) restricted the Rapids to 116 all out in 16 overs as Worcestershire finished bottom of the group on net run rate.
