WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids hit a brand new low on Friday evening as they suffered their heaviest ever defeat in T20 cricket in a crippling loss to rivals Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston.

A brilliant unbeaten century from Adam Hose enabled the Bears to total 228-8 in their 20 overs despite Worcestershire's Mitchell Stanley taking two wickets in the opening over.

But the Rapids conceded 17 wides and were also guilty of several uncharacteristic fielding errors as they allowed Birmingham to post a big score.

The response from the visitors was woeful and when they batted, only Colin Munro (33) offered any resistance, and the Rapids were bowled out for 84 in 15.3 overs.

Moeen Ali had returned from England duty to lead the side and he won the toss against his former county and put the Bears into bat in the Sky Sports televised match – and saw youngster Stanley make an explosive start with the new ball.

He dismissed Alex Davies (0) with his second legitimate delivery and made it two wickets in two balls as the in-form Sam Hain (0) came down the pitch and edged to Moeen at slip.

Adam Hose got off the mark with an edge for four against Stanley, which flew over the head of the former Warwickshire player and runs began to flow.

But Moeen struck when he came into the attack, and Rob Yates (20) went to cut a quicker ball and was caught behind by Gareth Roderick.

Te 100 came up in 8.3 overs before Adam Finch ended a stand of 91 between Hose and Dan Mousley (53) when the latter went for a reverse paddle and spooned a catch to Kashif Ali.

Finch made another breakthrough when Munro made good ground from long on to dismiss Chris Benjamin (10).

He became the second Rapids bowler on the evening to take two wickets in two balls as he knocked back the middle stump of Bears captain Carlos Brathwaite (0) at 171-6 in the 15th over.

Munro took another excellent low catch in the long on region to account for Jake Lintott (6) after Pat Brown returned to the attack.

Hose completed a 51 ball 100 beforeOlly Stone was caught off Brown.

When the Rapids batted, Pollock (4) was caught at mid on in the first over from Stone, and then Brett D’Oliveira (0) guided a delivery from Craig Miles to first slip.

Moeen (4) departed when he hit Mousley straight to deep mid-wicket to leave the Rapids on 19-3 in the fifth over and they only managed to muster 31 runs from the powerplay.

Munro continued to blaze away with two boundaries in Brathwaite’s first over, but on 33, he went to cut Danny Briggs and was caught behind to effectively end their hopes.

Bravo was promoted up the order but fell first ball to Briggs at long off, Kashif Ali (17) went lbw to Briggs and Ed Barnard (2) was caught.

Roderick (7) became Briggs fourth victim. Finch (6) was bowled by the returning Stone, and last man Stanley (7) sliced Lintott to short third man.