THE Worcestershire Rapids cruised past the Lancashire Lightning on Tuesday to boost their chances of reaching the T20 Vitality Blast quarter-finals after a seven-wicket victory.

New Zealand international Mitchell Santner was the star of the show as his 2-19 with the ball helped restrict Lancashire to just 164/8 from their 20 overs. Pat Brown inflicted further damage on the hosts with 3-32 and recent England debutant Josh Tongue picked up two wickets in Lightning's innings. 

Jack Haynes (63) and Santner (49) then put on 81 runs for the second wicket to put them in the driving seat, before Adam Hose, who added 54 with Haynes, steered the Rapids to victory. 

Worcestershire move from fifth in the table up to third, but are only two points off the lead with a game in hand. 

Lightning captain Livingstone opted to bat after winning the toss but his side ran into early trouble.

Phil Salt hit the second ball of the innings over the mid-wicket boundary but it was his only scoring stroke. He went for another legside hit against Pennington and skied a catch to Usama Mir at cover.

Santner shared the new ball and also made a breakthrough as Luke Wells attempted a reverse sweep and was lbw. Dane Vilas survived a caught and bowled chance but it did not prove a costly miss as Brown struck twice in the final over of the powerplay.

Vilas pulled Brown to Ed Pollock at mid-wicket and the next delivery accounted for Daryl Mitchell as he nicked a ball of extra bounce through to keeper Ben Cox.

Lancashire were then 38 for four but Jos Buttler and Rob Jones batted sensibly although they found it difficult to force the pace against the spinners.

Butler followed up his half-century in Lancashire’s win over Worcestershire at Blackpool by completing a 40-ball fifty with his fifth boundary.

It was Santner who broke the 98-run stand when Jones attempted a reverse sweep and only found the hands of Pollock on the cover boundary.

Worcester News: Josh Tongue (left) with captain Brett D'Oliveira and Mitchell Santner, who bowled superblyJosh Tongue (left) with captain Brett D'Oliveira and Mitchell Santner, who bowled superbly (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

Tongue then dismissed Buttler and Livingstone in an action-packed penultimate over.

Butler’s fine knock ended on 74 when he holed out to cover and then Livingstone, who surprisingly held himself back until there were only 10 balls remaining, smashed his first two deliveries for maximums.

After a no ball, Livingstone carved the third legitimate ball he faced into the safe hands of Brown at deep cover.

There was time for Brown to pick up his third wicket as Luke Wood found long on.

Jones held onto a diving catch at cover to dismiss D’Oliveira in Jack Blatherwick’s first over but Santner and Haynes took the game away from the Lightning during a stand of 81 in eight overs.

Santner was particularly aggressive, striking Livingstone and Wells for maximums and there were also five boundaries in his 49 before he feathered through to Buttler.

Haynes then took over the mantle of chief aggressor and a regal cover drive off Tom Hartley enabled him to complete his half-century.

Worcester News: Jack Haynes did the majority of the damage with the bat, scoring 63 runs.Jack Haynes did the majority of the damage with the bat, scoring 63 runs. (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

With Adam Hose also in good nick, the Rapids were on the verge of victory when Haynes holed out to backward square leg of Blatherwick. Hose and Kashif Ali then helped Rapids over the line with 14 balls left.

Rapids are back in action on Thursday at New Road when they face Notts Outlaws, before they make the trip to Edgbaston on Friday to face rivals Birmingham Bears in a mouthwatering encounter in the North Group.