Brookes, Mohammed star for Rapids as Durham are swept away

Worcestershire Rapids had youngsters Isaac Mohammed and Ethan Brookes to thank as their brilliant cameos saw them to a comprehensive six-wicket win over Durham.

Durham set a target of 156, with only Will Rhodes, 58 not out, able to cash in against a well-drilled Rapids attack.

The reply sizzled from the outset, with 17-year-old Mohammed blasting 32 from just 15 balls, as his cameo put the Rapids in a good position after the powerplay.

Coming in at 89 for 3, Brookes stole the show with a blistering 51, in an innings that included eight boundaries, to see his side to victory with two overs to spare.

After being asked to bat first in idyllic conditions, the Durham innings stuttered during the powerplay as both Graham Clark and Ollie Robinson departed without, as their side were restricted to 37 for 2.

Skipper Alex Lees looked good for his 28 but failed to kick on when he clipped a Brookes delivery straight to the hands of Ben Dwarshuis in the deep, as the visitors reached the halfway point of their innings 65 for 3.

Jacob Duffy opened proceedings with a searing yorker, before the impressive Dwarshuis (1 for 28) had Ollie Robinson caught for one.

Colin Ackermann struck a couple of lusty blows in his 21-run cameo but failed to capitalise on his start when he fell in underwhelming fashion, chipping the ball straight to debutant Mohammed at backward point.

The Rapids' impressive bowling performance continued to stifle the Durham run rate, as Matthew Waite (2 for 20) picked up the key wicket of Jimmy Neesham, for just five, as Rhodes continued his salvo at the other end.

The cohesive display in the field and with the ball saw the Rapids on top heading into the final stages of the innings, before a 41-run partnership between Rhodes and Ben Raine was ended when Waite removed Raine in the 19th over.

Dwarshuis, returned to finish the innings, as Rhodes brought up his counter-attacking half-century, as he carried his bat for a well-made 58 off 33 balls, as Durham were restricted to 155 for 6.

It was debutant Isaac Mohammed, who took centre stage in the early stages of the reply, as his exhilarating knock got the Rapids off to a flying start.

His 32 off just 15 balls included six boundaries, but the entertainment was brought to a close when the veteran Neesham, beat his defences with an accurate yorker.

Kashif Ali joined Jake Libby, as the pair continued the fast start, with Ali helping himself to four successive boundaries in the final over of the powerplay, as the home side reached 63 for 1.

The pair added 48 for the second-wicket, before the visitors struck twice in two overs, when Raine trapped Ali lbw for 25, and Callum Parkinson had Libby caught for 21, with the Rapids needing 67 to win off the remaining seven overs.

Brookes then put his foot on the accelerator, taking the returning Potts for 21 off his second over, blasting three sixes in the process as he took his side to within touching distance of a memorable victory.

Brookes couldn't quite see his side home, as he fell for a brilliant 51 from just 24 balls, but with just two required for victory, a comfortable six-wicket win was wrapped up in the 18th over.