Colin Munro shone with the bat for the second time in 48 hours as Worcestershire Rapids went down by 12 runs in a closely fought battle with Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford.
The New Zealand star followed up his 66 against Notts Outlaws on Friday evening with another excellent knock of 53 from 36 balls.
Brett D’Oliveira and Jake Libby provided good support in pursuit of a 184 target.
The Rapids were well in contention for the bulk of their innings and needed 33 from the final three overs.
But the 18th proved crucial with Richard Gleeson (5-33) dismissing Libby and Munro, and they eventually closed on 171-8.
Earlier, the Rapids had restricted the Lightning to 183-7, with Pat Brown picking up three wickets, despite Tim David’s half-century providing late acceleration for the home team.
The Rapids made one change from the side in action against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge on Friday, with Brown replacing fellow pace bowler Dillon Pennington.
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).
Jennings (16) pulled a delivery into the hands of Jake Libby on the square leg boundary, and Vilas (3) went for a big hit down the ground and only picked out Jack Haynes at long off.
A tight over from Morris meant Lancashire ended the powerplay on 59-3.
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.
He picked up the prized wicket of England’s Liam Livingstone (26), with Brett D’Oliveira holding onto the chance at deep mid-wicket, and then had Danny Lamb (0) lbw.
Overseas signing David provided some momentum for Lancashire with 60 off 25 balls before he holed out to deep mid-wicket in the final over from Morris.
When the Rapids launched their reply, they received an unexpected bonus when the first delivery from Luke Wood flew to the boundary for four overthrows.
Ed Pollock (12) smashed Gleeson for an enormous six over mid-wicket but then was taken by Livingstone at deep square leg.
D’Oliveira became only the fifth player to score 1500 runs in T20 cricket for the Rapids when he reached five, and he straight drove and flicked Gleeson over fine leg for boundaries.
But 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 went on the offensive against Callum Parkinson with successive sixes over deep mid-wicket, but in the same over, after making 37 from 29 balls, was caught and bowled.
Munro and Libby kept the score ticking along against the spinners in mid-innings.
Munro pulled Tom Hartley and Livingstone for boundaries as the 100 came up in the 13th over.
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.
