COLIN Munro again impressed with the bat for the Worcestershire Rapids but it was not enough to avoid defeat as they fell 12 runs short of Lancashire Lightning's 184 total on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford.

It was the third game in five days to begin the 2022 Vitality Blast campaign for the Rapids and was also the third one away from home.

They seem to have been handed a tough gig with how the fixtures have fell but after losing on Wednesday to Yorkshire Vikings, Friday to Notts Outlaws, and now Lancashire on Sunday, they find themselves bottom of the North Group Division.

Having restricted the Lightning to 183-7, with Pat Brown picking up three wickets, the visitors had a good chance of victory but despite Munro's second half-century of the week, they ran out of steam and finished on 171-8 in reply.

Brown put the brakes on a flying start by the home side with three wickets in the space of seven balls.

He made the first breakthrough after Lightning captain, Dane Vilas, opted to bat after winning the toss.

Phil Salt (29) only succeeded in slicing the ball high in the air towards third man, and Charlie Morris, running back, took a fine catch over his shoulder.

Brown struck twice in his second over to remove Keaton Jennings (16) and Vilas (3).

The boundaries dried up for a spell, and the Rapids seized control as another cluster of three quick wickets reduced the Lightning to 98-6 in the 13th over.

Steven Croft (22) was caught at long-on off Josh Baker before Ed Barnard struck with successive balls in removing England’s Liam Livingstone (26) and then had Danny Lamb (0) lbw.

Overseas signing David provided some momentum for Lancashire with a brilliant 60 off 25 balls before he holed out to deep mid-wicket in the final over from Morris.

That knock essentially proved decisive when the Rapids launched their reply.

Ed Pollock (12) smashed Gleeson for an enormous six over mid-wicket but then was taken by Livingstone at deep square leg.

D’Oliveira straight drove and flicked Gleeson over fine leg for boundaries but then Jack Haynes on 12 was unfortunate to drag a full-length delivery from the same bowler onto his stumps as the Rapids closed the powerplay on 51-2.

D’Oliveira (37) went on the offensive against Callum Parkinson with successive sixes over deep mid-wicket, but in the same over was caught and bowled.

Munro and Libby kept the score ticking along against the spinners in mid-innings and the 100 came up in the 13th over when Munro pulled Tom Hartley and Livingstone for boundaries.

The New Zealander lofted Lamb for a huge six over the deep mid-wicket boundary in a seven ball 15th over, costing 21 runs with the aid of a no ball.

He completed his half-century off 32 balls with one six and five fours, and then Libby achieved a maximum off Parkinson over wide long on.

Libby (33) was bowled after making room against Gleeson to end a partnership of 79 in 8.5 overs with Munro, who in the same over was lbw.

Ben Cox (3), on loan Matthew Waite (0) and Barnard (8) were dismissed in the late pursuit of runs.