WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids' Royal London One-Day Cup quarter-final hopes were left hanging in the balance after a high-scoring defeat at New Road.

Ben Duckett continued his prolific form as visitors Northamptonshire Steelbacks reignited their own cup campaign with a 23-run victory.

An eye-catching knock of 86 from 75 balls took his nine-day tally to 631 from seven innings for Northants and England Lions.

But Tom Kohler-Cadmore's first List A century kept Rapids in contention for their 320 target.

It was not until the 45th over that left-arm spinner Graeme White landed the knockout blows in three balls.

The dangerous Ross Whiteley was caught on the long-on boundary for 22 and Kohler-Cadmore was yorked for 119 after 11 fours and a six from 126 balls.

On a damp morning, Northants skipper Alex Wakely may have feared the worst on losing the toss yet again in the competition.

But Duckett and Adam Rossington, who played equally well for 87, corrected an early wobble.

Their partnership of 99 in 16 overs gave the innings shape and substance before Steven Crook (52 not out) and Rory Kleinveldt (37) smashed 76 in nine overs.

The late charge, which ended in the last over when Kleinveldt holed out to deep square leg after two sixes and four fours, meant Rapids had to surpass their chasing record in List A cricket to win.

They made a bold attempt. After a bright 43 by Daryl Mitchell, Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Fell enjoyed a relatively trouble-free partnership of 125 in 18 overs.

But Richard Gleeson broke through by bowling Fell for 54 with only four boundaries from 50 deliveries.

White (3-59) then held a straightforward return catch from Alexei Kervezee and Brett D'Oliveira played on to Kleinveldt.

Whiteley smashed two sixes but momentum was lost with White's double intervention and the challenge petered out with the last three wickets in five balls giving Gleeson 5-47.

The match began 10 minutes late due to rain and Northants lost a wicket in Joe Leach's first over when Josh Cobb angled a catch to D'Oliveira at point.

Rob Keogh (17) and Wakely went in quick succession but Jack Shantry dropped a low, one-handed chance from Duckett when he was on 33.

Duckett finished with one six and 12 fours before mistiming a pull off Leach.