Worcestershire Rapids sealed a home semi-final in the Royal London One-Day Cup after openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Daryl Mitchell powered them to a five wicket win over Derbyshire Falcons at the 3aaa County Ground.
Kohler-Cadmore set the tone with an explosive 63 off just 34 balls with three sixes and eight fours to give the Rapids early momentum in pursuit of a Duckworth-Lewis target of 218 in 36 overs that they never relinquished.
The 22-year-old dominated an opening stand of 90 in 11 overs with Mitchell.
But Mitchell's knock of 67 off 71 deliveries with four boundaries was equally effective as he provided the perfect foil for Kohler-Cadmore and then saw his own innings blossom.
It was his third half century in six innings in this season's competition since earning a recall to the One-Day Cup side.
The Rapids sixth win in eight games mean they finish top of a North Group which contains five counties who play at Test grounds.
It has also sealed a first semi-final for Worcestershire since the 2004 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston which they won by 41 runs – a game which featured current Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes and Bowling Coach Matt Mason.
The Rapids will now host a New Road semi-final on Saturday June 17 against either Yorkshire Vikings or Surrey.
Kohler-Cadmore made his intentions clear from the very first ball he faced as he smote Ben Cotton over long on for a massive six.
He again cleared the ropes in Cotton's second over – over deep mid wicket – and then hammered three fours in an over from Hardus Viljoen.
Kohler-Cadmore had one stroke of luck with an inside edge against Cotton which flew away for four but otherwise it was a demonstration of clean hitting.
A third six from Kohler-Cadmore flew over long off and he went to his half century off 26 balls.
Mitchell offered excellent support and was the ideal foil although he had a let off on 21 when Viljoen spilled a chance a mid wicket off Luis Reece.
Kohler-Cadmore's fine knock finally ended when he was well caught by keeper Daryn Smit off Shiv Thakor with 90 on the board from just 11 overs.
It followed on from his 121 against Derbyshire Seconds in a Trophy clash at Kidderminster 12 days ago.
Tom Fell made a run a ball 24 before falling at mid on off Jeevan Mendis but Mitchell pulled leg spinner Matt Critchley for successive fours to reach a half century from 59 balls.
He eventually sucumbed to a leading edge and was caught and bowled by Viljoen for 67 off 71 deliveries with four boundaries.
Brett D'Oliveira (18) edged Viljoen and departed to an excellent catch by Smit away to his right and the same bowler had Ben Cox (11) caught at long leg after he helped the ball on its way around the corner.
But Ross Whiteley 15 not out – including a match clinching straight six off Wayne Madsen – and Ed Barnard 13 not out saw the Rapids home in the 33rd over.
Barnard returned 3-37 in his seven overs as the Falcons ended on 209-8 – a figure that was revised under the Duckworth Lewis Method.
Worcestershire handed a debut to Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon who arrived at New Road yesterday to begin a four week spell as replacement for John Hastings.
Rapids skipper Joe Leach asked Derbyshire to bat and shared the new ball in a tight opening spell with Jack Shantry which yielded only 16 runs from the first six overs.
Billy Godleman on 15 survived a sharp return catch to Shantry with the total on 28 in the eighth over but Barnard broke through in the next over with his first delivery.
Ben Slater (14) drove at the former England Under-19 player and Mitchell held onto the chance at second slip.
The players left the field at 34-1 after 10.4 overs through heavy rain and eventually returned at 5pm with the match reduced to 36 overs per side.
Barnard enjoyed a second success when Billy Godleman (18) steered a delivery straight to D'Oliveira at point at 39-2.
Shiv Thakor and Wayne Madsen were watchful at first but gradually accelerated in a stand worth 51 in nine overs.
Thakor had a let off on 30 when he was dropped by Josh Tongue at fine leg off Shantry.
But Leach ended the partnership when Madsen (22) mis-timed a pull straight to Fell at mid on with the total 90-3 in the 22nd over.
Thakor survived another chance on 42 when Ross Whiteley diving forward could not cling onto the ball at deep mid wicket off Lyon.
He reached his 50 out of 119-3 in the 26th over from 56 balls with five fours.
Alex Hughes struck D'Oliveira for two sixes in an over and then on 30 top edged Barnard only for Shantry at full stretch at fine leg not to hold onto the ball.
Tongue ended Thakor's innings on 60 as he drove into the hands of Barnard at short cover.
Lyon picked up his first Worcestershire wicket as Hughes, after making 37 from 24 balls, holed out to substitute George Rhodes at deep backward square.
Jeevan Mendis (5) departed in Mitchell's first over to Lyon at deep mid wicket and Luis Reece (9) went for a reverse scoop against Barnard and was lbw.
Leach secured the eighth wicket as Matt Critchley (17) was caught by Shantry at cover.
