WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids are through to the 2018 Vitality Blast quarter-finals.

They are guaranteed at least a top-four spot after yesterday’s win over Derbyshire Falcons at Blackfinch New Road.

Head coach Kevin Sharp said: “The lads deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved so far and there is a lot of belief in the group about what they are capable of.

“I also want to highlight the part played by Alan Richardson (head bowling coach) and Alex Gidman (second XI coach-batting coach) in working closely with the squad in white-ball cricket.

“But the work is not completed yet. The lads want to secure a home quarter-final and they want to get through to finals day.

“Everyone at the club is aware the County haven’t managed that so far and it is a goal for everyone.”

Batting hero Joe Clarke praised the efforts of “lads who are standing up and making a name for themselves” after the Falcons win.

Clarke top-scored with 76 out of Rapids' 137-8 but said the performance of the bowlers was immense in securing a 16-run victory on a slow pitch.

He said: “We are on a bit of a roll. People are standing up at the right times and we are just managing to get over the line.

“In previous years we’ve sort of faded away but this year we’ve got on a roll and fortunately the results are going our way.

“We probably would have said our total was 20 runs short but the bowlers have just been excellent this year as well — lads standing up, putting in some really good performances and winning us games.

“Pat Brown has really come to the party this year. He backs his skills and has got a bit about him.

"He has been an excellent bowler in this competition and that’s why he is in the top couple of wicket-takers.

“Wayne Parnell has come in and performed straight away and as a bowling group they will be happy with their efforts.”

Brown, 19, rewrote the record books with his 22nd victim in the competition this summer to overtake the previous Rapids best by spin legend Saeed Ajmal.

As regards his own innings, Clarke said: “I rode my luck and managed to get a few (balls) away.

"We realised quite early on that it wasn’t a big-total sort of game and looked at 160 as being a really good score.

“Once I got in and saw wickets were falling I felt the responsibility of batting the majority of the overs.

“It was very tough to get going. I’ve got the best job in a way in that I get to face the ball when it is at its hardest at the start of the innings and that got me going a bit.

“But for the lads coming in during the middle it was tough.

“They got it to reverse very early on and it is definitely tough to come in and score quickly.

“It was nice to get a score and contribute to a win.”

Rapids host Notts Outlaws on Sunday (2.30pm) after visiting Leicestershire Foxes tonight (6.30pm).

Captain Moeen Ali will return against Outlaws. The all-rounder has been released by England after missing out on the XI in the second Test with India at Lord’s.