WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids kept their hopes for a Vitality Blast quarter final alive, with a tense 12-run win over Derbyshire Falcons.
The bout saw Gareth Roderick claw back what had been a slow start for the Rapids, before the side were able to hold their nerve with the ball in the final moments.
It was a nightmare start for Rapids on the night, finding themselves floundering with the quick the dismissals of Isaac Mohammed, Brett D'Oliveira, Kashif Ali and Adam Hose. The side ended the powerplay at 35-4.
Gareth Roderick spearheaded the effort as the side dragged themselves back into the match.
Partnered by Ethan Brookes, the pair took their side past 50 in the eighth over, bringing Worcestershire to 95-4 by 13th over.
Brookes departed shortly after, being bowled for 43 off 26. Roderick continued in similar impressive form, taking his half-century by the 16th over and passing his career-best T20 score in the process.
The impressive performance ended two over later, as he was bowled for 71 off 57 - hitting six boundaries in the process.
Ben Dwarshuis and Tom Taylor came together with the bat, Dwarshuis took 33 off 18 balls, while Taylor added 14 to see Rapids finish the innings on 174-6.
Taylor, now with the ball, started off Rapids strong by catching Aneurin Donald down the leg-side on his second ball of the match.
Taylor added another, bowling Harry Came for eight before Dwarshuis took the wicket of Caleb Jewell in the fourth over, leaving the home side at 29-3.
Derbyshire looked more competitive, taking a 53-run stand before Adam Finch's fast delivery was hit into the waiting hands of Adam Hose by Samit Patel.
Fateh Singh picked up the fifth wicket in the 14th over, with Derbyshire at 109-5.
Worcestershire went into the final four overs of the contest defending 40, with the need to keep their quarter final hopes alive firmly in their minds.
The 18th over proved the decisive one as Andersson was run out after some fantastic work from Adam Hose at long-on.
Needing 28 from the final two overs, Dwarshuis and Khurram Shazhad showcased their nerve, delivering some strong bowling with the pressure on to see Worcestershire take the 12-run victory.
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"I think from the position we were in, to finish as the winners was really impressive," said Roderick after the match.
"I think the way the guys finished the innings there, kind of gave us impetus.
"I thought we started exceptionally well with the ball, and we closed out exceptionally well with the ball. So nice to kind of forget in the first three or four overs, I think post that, we were very, very good in pretty much all facets.
"To be going into these last few games with a little chance to qualify. It’s certainly exciting for the club, hopefully we can go on a run."
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