Worcestershire Rapids launched their home programme in fine style with a six wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes in the NatWest T20 Blast at New Road.
A fine all-round performance from skipper Daryl Mitchell helped the Rapids chalk up their first win of the campaign in the competition.
The 31-year-old conceded only 13 runs in his four overs and picked up the wicket of Niall O'Brien as Leicestershire were restricted to 147-6 off 20 overs.
Then Mitchell hit 58 off 47 balls with six boundaries despite being hit on the shoulder by a Tom Kohler-Cadmore straight drive and then pulling another delivery onto his elbow.
But there were several encouraging performances from the Rapids who reached the quarter-finals last season.
All the Rapids bowlers stuck to their task, backed up by some excellent ground fielding, and then Ben Cox (30 not out) and Ross Whiteley (26 not out) added an unbeaten 36 in 2.3 overs to seal victory with 14 balls to spare.
Leicestershire Foxes were put into bat and Jack Shantry struck in his second over when Ned Eckersley (2) was caught at mid wicket by Kohler-Cadmore.
Foxes captain Mark Cosgrove on 12 was dropped on the mid wicket boundary off Ed Barnard but in the same over Kevin O'Brien (12) was adjudged lbw.
At the end of the six over powerplay the total stood on 56-2. Only one more run was added before Ben Raine (11) departed to a good low catch by Ross Whiteley on the mid wicket boundary off Brett D'Oliveira.
Sachithra Senanayake struck when Cosgrove (27) lofted the ball to D'Oliveira at cover.
Grant Elliott and Niall O'Brien added 50 in eight overs for the fifth wicket but the Foxes innings was kept under control.
Richard Oliver took a good catch on the deep square leg boundary to end O'Brien's innings for 26 off Mitchell and Elliott (33) was caught at short third man by Senanayake off Barnard.
When the Rapids launched their reply, Oliver made a quickfire 13 before holing out to mid-off off Rob Taylor.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (4) departed to a catch at mid on off Raine with Worcestershire 33-2 in the fifth over.
Colin Munro announced his return to the Rapids by drilling his first delivery from Taylor for a straight six and Mitchell collected two fours in the same over which cost 16 runs.
Munro was stumped off spinner Jigar Naik for 11 and Mitchell and Cox were able to work the ball around during a seven over spell without a boundary.
The scoring rate gradually increased again with Mitchell twice chopping Elliott to third man for four as the 100 came up in the 15th over.
He went to a fine 50 off 43 balls and, after he was dismissed – caught behind cutting at Taylor – in came Whiteley to bring about a swift conclusion to the game.
The all-rounder showed the power evident last summer with three towering sixes in making an unbeaten 26 off just 11 balls and, with Cox also scoring freely, victory was achieved in the 18th over.
