WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids secured a derby day victory over Warwickshire.
The Rapids secured victory by six wickets in the hot and humid West Midlands conditions.
Rapids won the toss and opted to bowl. Their decision was immediately justified when Tom Taylor removed Alex Davies for a first-ball duck, uprooting the opener's leg stump.
The Rapids struck again in the fourth over when a mix-up between Beau Webster and Rob Yates allowed Matthew Waite to run out Webster for nine, leaving Warwickshire struggling at 15-2.
Sam Hain attempted to rebuild the innings, but Adam Finch claimed his first wicket of the evening when Hain chipped a catch to Adam Hose at cover for 16. Although the Bears reached 50 shortly afterwards, Worcestershire remained firmly on top.
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Former Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard was then caught behind by Gareth Roderick off Usama Mir for nine, before the Pakistan leg-spinner struck again to bowl Vansh Jani for eight as Warwickshire slipped further into trouble.
Yates provided some resistance and guided the Bears past 100, but he fell five short of a half-century when Ethan Brookes produced an excellent catch at gully to dismiss him for 45, leaving the visitors 109-6.
Chris Woakes departed for four when Brett D’Oliveira held a catch at cover, but Jordan Thompson provided late resistance with a rapid 37 before Finch ended his counter-attack with an lbw decision.
The innings quickly unravelled at the death. Former Pears loanee Oliver Hannon-Dalby was bowled by Waite for a duck attempting a ramp shot, while D’Oliveira took another catch at cover to remove Usman Tariq as Warwickshire were dismissed for 141.
Four of Worcestershire’s five bowlers claimed at least two wickets, with Mir the pick of the attack as he returned figures of 3-27 from his four overs.
Set 142 for victory, Worcestershire made a steady start through Isaac Mohammed and Brett D’Oliveira, whose opening partnership laid a solid foundation for the chase.
The pair added 49 before D’Oliveira fell for 26, caught by Taz Ali at midwicket. Mohammed made 27 before he was stumped off Usman Tariq, bringing Kashif Ali to the crease.
Kashif Ali eased any nerves with two towering sixes towards the Cathedral side of the ground as Worcestershire moved firmly into control.
Adam Hose added 23 before he was caught in the deep by Chris Woakes, but the Rapids remained on course despite a brief wobble when Kashif Ali fell for 36 with only 10 runs still required.
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Any lingering nerves were quickly settled by Sikandar Raza, whose late blows carried Worcestershire to a six-wicket victory in the 19th over in front of a lively New Road crowd. T
he win secured Worcestershire’s first home T20 success over Warwickshire since 2022 and returned the Norman Gifford Trophy to New Road.
Worcestershire continue their Vitality Blast campaign next Friday (June 5) when they host Glamorgan at New Road.
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