WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids saw their perfect start in the Royal London One-Day Cup come to an end following a 130-run defeat against Northamptonshire.
After limiting the home side to 295-6 from their 50 overs, the Rapids were bowled out for just 165 in reply at the County Ground in Northampton.
The Rapids won the toss and decided to bowl only for Northamptonshire’s openers to produce a 108-run first-wicket stand.
Hishaam Khan (1-48) eventually removed Prithvi Shaw (72) who hit 11 boundaries in his 59-ball innings.
The home side looked well-placed to post a big total as Ricardo Vasconcelos (68) and George Bartlett (60) helped the Steelbacks pass the 200-run mark with more than 10 overs remaining.
However, Fateh Singh (3-51) accounted for Bartlett before Jake Libby (1-9) bowled Vasconcelos the following over.
Worcestershire continued to halt the home side’s momentum as Singh bowled James Sales (10) before also claiming the wicket of Saif Zaib (26).
Tom Taylor (1-66) took the final wicket after he removed Lewis McManus (11) as Northamptonshire closed on 295-6.
In reply, Worcestershire lost opener Gareth Roderick (1) in the second over to the bowling of Jack White (2-26).
White then bowled Ed Pollock (9) before Ben Sanderson (1-9) accounted for Rob Jones (6) the following over.
And Justin Broad (3-32) struck twice in the same over as he trapped Ethan Brookes (4) LBW and had Rehaan Edavalath (0) caught for a duck to leave the Rapids in trouble on 34-5.
However, half-centuries from Libby (50 not out) and Taylor (57) kept the visitors in the contest before Zaib (3-44) trapped the latter LBW.
Singh (15) was the only other Rapids batter to reach double figures before falling to Freddie Heldreich (1-25).
A couple of quick wickets saw Khan (1) and Tom Hinley (0) both fall victim of Zaib before Broad accounted for Harry Darley (8) to bring an end to the Worcestershire innings.
Worcestershire are next in action against Kent on Wednesday, August 7 with the match to begin at 11am at New Road.
