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Vitality Blast Final Worcestershire Rapids beat Sussex Sharks by 5 wickets

by Alastair Symondson Saturday 15 September 2018

©Reuters

Ed Barnard celebrates a wicket

©Reuters

Pat Brown takes a catch

©Reuters

Brett D'Oliveira stumped

©Reuters

Ben Cox in sensational batting form

©Reuters

Sussex Sharks won the toss and decided to bat in the Final of the Vitality Blast 2018 at Edgbaston tonight, against Worcestershire Rapids.

Amazing scenes!

The moment @WorcsCCC clinched their first T20 ??

Follow the celebrations on our Facebook page: https://t.co/nBeo5CEU3b pic.twitter.com/KG1ft8DU3W
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) September 15, 2018

Sussex Sharks 157- 6 ( Laurie Evans 52, Moeen Ali 3-30)

Worcestershire Rapids 158-5 ( Moeen Ali 41, Ben Cox 46*; Will Beer 2- 32, Danny Briggs 2-19)

Result - Worcestershire Rapids won by 5 wickets

Luke Wright 33, Laurie Evans 52 and Delray Rawlins 21 were the mainstay of the Sussex innings, which never really got going like they did in the semi-final against Somerset. Some tight bowling from Worcestershire Rapids’ Moeen Ali 3-30 and Pat Brown 0-15, off their allotted 4 overs, kept the Sussex Sharks pinned down, eventually finishing up on 157-6.

In reply, Worcestershire Rapids got off to good start with Moeen Ali 41 and Joe Clarke 33 putting on 61 for the first wicket in just over 6 overs. However, the Sharks spinners Will Beer 2- 32 and Danny Briggs 2-19 put the brakes on and it was only some great hitting from Ben Cox 46* towards the end that brought it back for the Rapids, who won by 5 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

Sussex Sharks - Philip Salt, Luke Wright(c), Laurie Evans, Delray Rawlins, David Wiese, Michael Burgess(wk), Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Will Beer, Danny Briggs, Tymal Mills

Worcestershire Rapids - Moeen Ali(c), Joe Clarke, Tom Fell, Brett D'Oliveira, Ben Cox(wk), Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard, Wayne Parnell, Daryl Mitchell, Luke Wood, Patrick Brown