WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids suffered their first setback in this season’s Vitality Blast as they went down by 12 runs to Yorkshire Vikings at Blackfinch New Road.

Rapids surrendered the last remaining unbeaten record in the competition after reeling off four successive wins.

They still head the North Group but Yorkshire’s third win in four matches means they have joined Lancashire Lightning and Notts Outlaws on six points, just two behind Rapids.

Yorkshire batted consistently after being put in with Adam Lyth, Harry Brook, Gary Balance and Jonathan Tattersall all making useful contributions in steering them to 179-7.

Rapids never recovered from losing opener Martin Guptill for a second-ball duck and despite some late hitting from Ross Whiteley they closed on 167-8.

Skipper Steven Patterson and Tim Bresnan picked up three wickets apiece for Vikings.

Vikings were given a flying start by Lyth after being put into bat and the left-hander set the tone with three boundaries in the opening over from Dillon Pennington.

The former England opener deposited Pat Brown over cover for six and raced to 35 out of 41 off 21 balls.

Brown had his revenge when Lyth holed out to Whiteley at deep square leg.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, making his first appearance at New Road since moving to Yorkshire from Worcestershire midway through last season, scored only five before being yorked by Pennington.

Ballance looked in good touch and struck four sixes, including two in an over from Rapids skipper Brett D’Oliveira, in his 40 from 21 balls.

Travis Head brought about his downfall as Balance went for one big hit too many and Daryl Mitchell held on to the skier at deep mid-wicket.

Mitchell then made an impact with the ball in the next over as Brook (33) flicked him straight to Joe Clarke at short fine leg at 118-4 in the 13th over.

Seamer Luke Wood returned to the attack to have Jack Leaning (11) caught at long-on.

Brown (3-34) ended his spell with two wickets in two balls.

Vikings keeper Jonathan Tattersall (29) fell at deep mid-wicket after Mitchell parried the ball back inside the boundary for Guptill to complete the catch and Bresnan (6) was trapped lbw.

When Rapids began their reply, Bresnan struck in his first over as Guptill went for an expansive drive and was caught behind.

Clarke smashed the ex-England paceman over deep mid-wicket for six but perished to the next delivery after making 17 with Patterson accepting the chance at mid-off.

Wickets continued to fall regularly as Rapids slipped behind the required scoring rate.

Mitchell (2) clipped Patterson behind square and fell victim to a smart catch from Bresnan while Ben Cox (12) was held at long-off in Azeem Rafiq’s first over.

Head (23) became the first success for Vikings debutant Jordan Thompson who deceived him with a slower ball and Ballance made no mistake at deep mid-wicket.

Bresnan claimed D’Oliveira as his third victim.

Much depended on Whiteley but after making 37 he carved Patterson on the off side and Leaning took a fine low catch.

Patterson dismissed Wood for his third success of the innings as Rapids were unable to conjure up the necessary runs.

Worcestershire head coach Kevin Sharp said: “I think we got a bit nearer (to their total) than it looked at one point and that shows the resilience of the team.

“But it is a fine line in this competition and if you are just not quite at your best, as we haven’t been really if we are honest, you will lose a game.

“Their total was competitive. We probably didn’t get off to the best start and weren’t as tight with our lines and lengths as we have been in the last few games.

"With our batting line-up, you’d always fancy yourselves to possibly get there.

“Obviously when you lose wickets like we did, without having the partnerships you need in the first six batters, then it is going to be more difficult.

“But we do bat deep and have lads who are very capable of something special at the end – and there was some good batting then. It was just one step too far.

“It’s fine margins. There were two fantastic strikes by Travis and Luke to mid-wicket and on another day when things are going for you they will go for four or six.

“You accept that in this game because you know it’s very unlikely you are going to play 14 games and win all of them.”