Worcestershire Rapids suffered weather frustration as they went down by nine runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method to Durham Jets in a Royal London One-Day Cup North Group encounter at South Northumberland CC in Gosforth.
Charlie Morris produced his best ever List A figures of 4-33 as Durham were bowled out for 209 in 45.2 overs after being put into bat.
But, after losing three early wickets, the Rapids found themselves behind the required rate under D-L when rain intervened with the total 82-4 from 15 overs.
At that point, Brett D’Oliveira was unbeaten on a run a ball 33 and Ben Cox 25 not out from 17 balls and the fifth wicket pair were steering the Rapids back into the driving seat.
It was the Rapids first defeat in the competition this season after victories over Derbyshire Falcons and Yorkshire Vikings.
Now they will look to bounce back in quickfire fashion in Sunday’s home encounter with Lancashire Lightning (11am start).
The Rapids continued their rotation policy by resting skipper Joe Leach with Travis Head leading the side today.
Josh Tongue returned to the side after being rested at Headingley and he struck the first breakthrough in the first over as Graham Clark (4) was trapped lbw.
Michael Richardson and Cameron Steel added 51 before the latter on 21 perished to Ross Whiteley at deep mid wicket off Ed Barnard.
Tom Latham (21) fell lbw to Pat Brown and then Morris enjoyed a double success in the space of three balls.
Will Smith (9) was caught behind – one of four catches by Ben Cox – and Stuart Poynter (0) was bowled by the Hereford born paceman.
Richardson held the Durham innings together and reached his half century off 73 balls with five boundaries.
But on 64 Whiteley ended his knock with an excellent head high catch on the legside boundary after Richardson tried to attack D’Oliveira.
It became 147-7 when Ryan Pringle (0) nicked Barnard to Cox who then held onto another chance offered by Nathan Rimmington (22) off Brown.
Morris wrapped up the innings with two wickets in two balls as Chris Rushworth (15) top edged a catch to Cox and then Gareth Harte (48) looped a catch up into the covers off Daryl Mitchell.
Worcestershire ran into early trouble when they launched their reply.
Daryl Mitchell (1) was caught down the leg side by keeper Poynter off Rushworth, Head (3) fell at deep square leg to Clark off Matt Dixon and Tom Fell (0) went in similar fashion first ball against Rushworth with the total 13-3.
Joe Clarke (17) turned Nathan Rimmington around the corner and was caught at short fine leg by Rushworth after adding 27 with D’Oliveira.
With rain threatening, D’Oliveira and Cox upped the tempo and 16 came off the final over from Harte before the players left the field for the final time.
