WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids began their T20 Blast campaign with an eight-wicket defeat against Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley.
Rapids were bowled out for just 101 in 15.4 overs as Ethan Brookes (42) top scored for the visitors.
Yorkshire eased to the required total in just 11.4 overs and for the loss of just two wickets.
Worcestershire head coach, Alan Richardson, said: “We were never at the races. It was a nice toss to win, and historically batting first at Headingley in T20 cricket is good.
“But we never got going. We never got the tempo of what a T20 game is about. A lot of guys today didn’t execute shots as well as they could.
“We will be better for this performance and learn a lot from it and our campaign won’t be defined by this game.
“Ethan Brookes played fantastic and showed a nice array of shots and he and Gareth Roderick rebuilt the innings a little bit.”
Worcestershire lost captain Brett D’Oliveira (0) in the first over before Donovan Ferreira stumped Matthew Waite (3) in the following over.
And single figure scores from Josh Cobb (2), Adam Hose (8), Tom Taylor (6) and Nathan Smith (3) left the Rapids in serious trouble on 49-6.
Brookes and wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick (25) were the only Rapids batters to reach double figures and scored nine boundaries between them.
However, after both fell in the same over, Hayden Walsh (4) and Ed Pollock (2) offered little resistance at the tail end.
Daniel Moriarty (4-25) starred with the ball while Dominic Leech and Dom Bess (both 2-10) also impressed.
Yorkshire made light work of the reply as Dawid Malan (25) fell to the bowling of Adam Finch (1-11).
Cobb (1-19) also claimed the wicket of Shan Masood (7) to give Worcestershire hope as Adam Lyth (55 not out) and Joe Root (13) saw the Vikings home.
Worcestershire host Lancashire Lightning TONIGHT (Friday, May 31) with the game to begin at 5.30pm at New Road in their next T20 Blast fixture.
