WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids' nightmare NatWest T20 Blast season ended with a new low as they were skittled for just 98 at Derbyshire Falcons.

Wayne Madsen and Imran Tahir inspired the hosts who crushed Rapids by 48 runs at Derby to secure a place in the quarter-finals for only the second time.

Madsen scored 55 from 42 balls to take Falcons to 146-8 and then took a wicket with his second ball as Rapids slumped to 39-5.

Hardus Viljoen struck twice in five balls to take 2-20 and with Tahir claiming 4-17 the visitors were routed with 26 balls to spare.

Falcons started badly, losing Billy Godleman and Luis Reece in the first fours overs and after Matt Critchley drove Mitchell Santner for six he miscued a pull to mid on.

At 31-3 a lot rested on Madsen and he responded by driving Pat Brown for three consecutive fours and pulling Joe Leach for another in the Rapids skipper’s first over which cost 13.

Callum Broderick was caught at backward point reverse sweeping Santner (2-28) and when Alex Hughes dragged a long hop from Brett D’Oliveira (2-19) to deep square leg Falcons were 78-5.

Rapids were bowling tightly and Madsen and Daryn Smit had to rely on placement to keep the board ticking over until the latter was stumped coming down the pitch to D’Oliveira in the 16th over.

The big over Falcons needed came in the 18th when Matt Henry and Madsen pulled Alex Hepburn for sixes but two run outs in the last six balls kept them to under 150.

Madsen struck an early blow with the second ball of Rapids' reply when Leach was bowled trying to cut for a duck.

Joe Clarke (23) took two fours off Madsen and then pulled Ben Cotton’s first two balls for boundaries but when he went for another big shot he only skied a catch to point.

Viljoen landed two big blows in the sixth over when he beat D’Oliveira (6) for pace and then pinned Ben Cox (2) lbw with his fifth delivery.

Rapids were in deep trouble when Santner (8) chopped on Tahir’s first ball.

The visitors never recovered from losing three wickets in seven balls and a fifth consecutive defeat was inevitable when former Derbyshire batsman Ross Whiteley (29) found the hands of Madsen at long on.

Rapids finished second from bottom in the North Group with just three wins, 10 defeats and a six-point gap to Lancashire Lightning above them.