Worcestershire Rapids went down by 29 runs in their final NatWest T20 Blast North Group encounter against Derbyshire Falcons at the 3aaa County Ground this evening.
Hamish Rutherford, with 64 from 38 balls, and an unbeaten 50 from Wayne Madsen enabled the Falcons to total 192-5 after being put into bat.
For the Rapids, Brett D'Oliveira top-scored with 44 as they were dismissed for 163 in 17.5 overs.
Derbyshire had not previously won a T20 Blast game this season batting first but Rutherford’s knock provided the platform to set a challenging total.
Charlie Morris dismissed Wes Durston (10) from mistimed a pull to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at deep mid on and the same combination also accounted for Neil Broom (5) who was well caught on the run at deep midwicket.
The Falcons reached 91-2 at the half-way stage.
D’Oliveira collected two superb catches at long on, first knocking the ball up and holding the rebound inside the rope to remove Chesney Hughes (27) and then diving full length to end Rutherford’s explosive innings after he had hit four sixes and four fours.
Madsen maintained the momentum for the home side. Morris finished with 2-30 from his four overs and Jack Shantry (1-30) and Ed Barnard (2-43) from their full spells.
The Rapids were given a promising start and Joe Leach took 12 from the first over by Ben Cottom via three boundaries.
Kohler-Cadmore (9) was caught behind trying to pull the paceman and Alexei Kervezee (2) went the same way to Shiv Thakor.
Leach (17) was well pouched by Chesney Hughes leaping at mid on off Jimmy Neesham to leave the Rapids on 32-3 but D’Oliveira hit back by driving Thakor for four and six in the final over of the powerplay.
D'Oliveira and Daryl Mitchell (19) added 45 before the County skipper was caught at long-off off Durston.
The Rapids went into the last 10 overs needing 114 with much resting on D’Oliveira and Ross Whiteley.
Former Derbyshire all-rounder Whiteley was threatening to change the game when he pulled and drove Durston for consecutive sixes as 19 came from the 13th over but in the next, he was caught at long on for 27 from 15 balls.
Ben Cox (17) also hit Matt Critchley for two sixes but skied the leg spinner to long on and D'Oliveira was caught behind cutting at the next ball before the innings was quickly wrapped up.
