WORCESTERSHIRE pulled off a last-gasp passage into the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 13-run victory over arch-rivals Warwickshire at Edgbaston tonight.

The County, needing to win to have any chance of qualifying, restricted the hosts to 130 in reply to 143-5.

When news filtered through that Essex had beaten Middlesex, Vikram Solanki's team celebrated, having qualified as one of the best third-placed teams.

Warwickshire, already assured of a home quarter-final, could only reflect on another one-day defeat to their rivals as the visitors have won eight of the last nine clashes.

Worcestershire chose to bat first but found the going tough and managed just eight from the first three overs and, just as the shackles were starting to come off, lost three wickets in seven balls.

Graeme Hick, Solanki and Ben Smith all fell before Phil Jaques and Steven Davies (20) added 53 runs in six overs.

Jaques advanced to 38 from 28 balls with five fours, while Kabir Ali (25 from 27 balls) and Roger Sillence (21 from 20) scored 46 in the last six overs.

Daryl Mitchell took 3-18 and Kabir 2-24 as 26 runs from the last two overs proved too much for Warwickshire.

Worcestershire will travel to Bristol to play group rivals Gloucestershire in the quarter-finals on either July 17 or 18.