NatWest T20 Blast: Worcestershire beat Yorkshire to win third in a row

Worcestershire Rapids won their third NatWest T20 Blast game in three, beating Yorkshire Vikings by seven wickets at New Road.

Liam Plunkett put in an impressive all-round effort for the visitors, striking 34 not out off just 10 balls before taking 2-29 from his four overs, but it wasn't enough for the Vikings who have now lost their opening two fixtures in the North Group.

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Joe Leach took 3-33 for the Rapids to help reduce Yorkshire to 112-6 in the 18th over before Plunkett's big-hitting efforts at the death - assisted by Tim Bresnan (29no off 13 balls) - helped set a testing 174-run target.

But with a solid platform of 109-3 set at the 12-over mark, Alexei Kervezee (52no off 37) and Brett D'Oliveira (34no off 20) put on 66 together to take Worcestershire home with five balls to spare.

Yorkshire won the toss and chose to bat first but lost David Willey (6) - bowled by Ed Barnard - and Adil Rashid (1) run out early.

Captain Alex Lees (46 off 36) seemed to have steadied the ship, but fell four short of fifty, while Jack Leaning (24 off 25) and Gary Ballance (24 off 23) couldn't capitalise on solid starts.

Leach removed both, bowling Ballance, and dismissed Will Rhodes (3) in the same manner soon after.

That brought Plunkett and Bresnan together and they smacked a staggering 61 from the final three overs to lift Yorkshire to a score of 173-6.

It wouldn't be enough though, despite two Plunkett strikes with the ball this time - Daryl Mitchell (29 off 17) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (19 off 18).

Adil Rashid (1-39) picked up a further wicket, Joe Clarke falling after an enterprising 34 off 23 balls, but Kervezee and D'Oliveira's partnership took the home side comfortably through to their target.

Gloucestershire squeaked to a four-wicket win over Middlesex with just a ball to spare in their South Group clash in Northwood.

Chasing 160 to win and still needing seven to win from the final three balls, Gareth Roderick (11no off 3) fired a four and a six to win it for the visitors.

Paul Stirling had earlier struck 60 off 43 balls - with five fours and three sixes - and Adam Voges (52 off 40) too fired fifty to help Middlesex post 159-9 from their 20 overs.

Gloucestershire appeared to be cruising along with Ian Cockbain (40 off 28) and Chris Dent (45 off 40) putting on 65 for the third wicket. A couple of late wickets put the game back in the balance, only for Roderick to fire the visitors to victory.

Hampshire got the better of Kent in the other South Group match on the night, winning by nine runs at the Ageas Bowl.

Michael Carberry hit 54 from 53 balls for the hosts but struggled for support elsewhere, as Matt Coles took 4-27.  

But overseas signings Shahid Afridi (21 off 14) and Darren Sammy (27 off 15) provided some useful lower-order hitting to propel the hosts up to 158-8 from their 20 overs.

Daniel Bell-Drummond cracked 64 from 51 balls at the top of the order for Kent, but suffered a similar problem to Carberry before him, with only his opening partner, Joe Denly (31 off 27), offering support and scoring more than 18.

Afridi impressed taking 3-33 - including the key wicket of Bell-Drummond in the 17th over - to back up his earlier efforts with the bat, as Kent crumbled to 149 all out in the final over.

Watch reigning T20 Blast champions Lancashire Lightning take on winless Yorkshire Vikings in the Roses clash at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports 2 from 6pm on Friday.