Clark's maiden hundred can't sink Rapids

Worcestershire 270 for 8 (D'Oliveira 73*) beat Durham 255 for 9 (Clark 114) by 15 runs
Scorecard

Worcestershire Rapids sealed a home tie in the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup despite a maiden List A century from Durham Jets opener Graham Clark in a dramatic turnaround at New Road.

The Jets appeared to be cruising towards their 271 target after an opening stand of 122 in 24 overs between Clark and Keaton Jennings.

But former Durham all-rounder John Hastings and veteran Daryl Mitchell claimed three wickets apiece to turn the game on its head after tight spells from spinners Moeen Ali and Brett D'Oliveira helped to apply the pressure.

The Jets eventually closed on 255-9 and went down by 15 runs.

It was the Rapids fifth win in seven games and they are guaranteed to finish at least in the top two of the group ahead of their final match away to Derbyshire Falcons on TuesdJy.

But it was rough justice on Clark who had followed up his 92 against Notts Outlaws on Thursday with another fine knock.

Clark and Jennings were relatively untroubled although the latter had a let off on 19 off Hastings as keeper Ben Cox spilled a chance when he dived across Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Clark went to his half century off 66 balls and the 100 came up in the 20th over before Moeen Ali made a much needed breakthrough for the home side.

Jennings went for a reverse sweep and an alert Kohler-Cadmore at slip held onto the chance. Mitchell then bowled Michael Richardson after he pushed forward and Brett D'Oliveira held onto a return catch from Cameron Steel.

Hastings came back into the attack and his second delivery brought about the downfall of Paul Collingwood, who perished to a low return catch.

Then three wickets tumbled in three overs - the third of them being the prized wicket of Clark for 114 off 128 balls with two sixes and seven fours.

He holed out to long on off Mitchell who also disposed of Ryan Pringle while in between Hastings sent back Paul Coughlin.

Hastings claimed a third scalp in his final over when Stuart Poynter was caught behind and he finished with 3 for 50 from his 10 overs. Jack Shantry cleaned up James Weighell in the penultimate over

The Rapids innings centred around a first half century of the campaign from D'Oliveira after they had been put into bat. D'Oliveira's only other fifty plus score had been registered in the non first-class fixture with Leeds-Bradford MCCU.

But the all-rounder ended unbeaten on 73 from 68 deliveries with three sixes and four fours on the same wicket used for Friday's clash with Warwickshire.

Collingwood put the brakes on in bowling 10 overs on the trot and conceding only 43 runs despite being struck for two straight sixes by Kohler-Cadmore.

He collected the prized wicket of England Lions batsman Joe Clarke, but it was medium pacer Coughlin who enjoyed the most success with the ball for Jets in returning 3 for 36 in his nine overs.

Moeen's innings was a mixed affair of several pleasing drives but also much playing and missing before he nicked Chris Rushworth and was caught behind.

Kohler-Cadmore threatened a substantial contribution and would have been disappointed at being tucked up on the back foot by spinner George Harding and offering a low return catch.

Then Collingwood accounted for Clarke who was trapped in the crease and trapped lbw by a delivery which jagged back sharply.