WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids suffered an agonising defeat as they exited the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-finals for the second successive season.

South African opener Heino Kuhn steered Kent Spitfires into their first Lord’s final in 10 years with 127 runs as they overcame Rapids by just two wickets at Blackfinch New Road.

Spitfires chased down a 307 target with two balls to spare to overshadow 122 not out by Rapids wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

Kuhn was supported by keeper Rouse (70) and Alex Blake (61) as Spitfires recovered from 31-3.

He was dismissed off the third ball of the final over with four still needed for victory but Harry Podmore smashed the next delivery from Pat Brown over the boundary.

Worcestershire opted to bat after Callum Ferguson, deputising as captain for injury-hit Joe Leach, won the toss.

But Rapids' former paceman Matt Henry had George Rhodes (2) caught at second slip.

Ferguson had scored 192 and 159 not out in the cup but made only 13 before being trapped lbw by Podmore.

Then Darren Stevens (2-33) forced Joe Clarke (23) to loft a catch to Henry at mid-on and bowled Daryl Mitchell (4) to leave Rapids on 48-4 in the 14th over.

Brett D’Oliveira and Cox gradually started to blossom although the former on 45 survived a stumping chance.

He went to his half-century off 65 balls, a milestone reached in three fewer deliveries by Cox.

D’Oliveira (78) then drilled Denly for the first six in the 38th over.

But in the same over he fell to a one-handed catch by Henry at long-on after adding 140 in 24 overs with Cox.

Ross Whiteley (4) was bowled by Podmore on 199-6 in the 41st over but Cox and Ed Barnard plundered 107 runs from the final 9.4 overs to take Rapids past 300.

Barnard hit two sixes in an over from Henry in his 28-ball half-century.

Cox brought up his century in the final over from Calum Haggett which cost 26 runs and ended unbeaten on 122 from 106 balls with two sixes and 14 fours.

Kent's reply began with a clatter of early wickets.

Rapids rookie Dillon Pennington struck in each of his first overs by bowling Daniel Bell-Drummond (1) and having skipper Joe Denly (0) caught at mid-off.

It became 38-3 when D’Oliveira’s first over accounted for Sean Dickson (8) who drilled a catch to short cover.

Kuhn and Rouse rebuilt the innings with a century stand although both had let-offs when on 50.

Mitchell failed to hold on to a low return catch from Kuhn and Rouse was well short attempting a second run when D’Oliveira failed to gather a low throw from Barnard cleanly.

But then Rapids took two quick wickets.

Rouse, having lasted 88 balls with six fours, hit Mitchell to Rhodes at mid-off and Stevens (10) nicked a Brown delivery with Cox pulling off a fine catch.

Kuhn found another able partner in Blake and Spitfires entered the last 10 overs needing 101 for victory.

The 34-year-old went to three figures from 99 balls with a six and seven fours.

Blake smote Barnard for two sixes in an over to bring up a 40-ball half-century.

But Barnard ended his knock on 61 when Blake was caught by D’Oliveira at long-off.

D’Oliveira then held on to Henry (8) at third man off Barnard to leave Spitfires needing 16 off the last two overs.

Eleven were needed from the final over by Brown and Kuhn smashed a straight six off the second ball.

He had made 127 off 118 balls with two sixes and eight fours when he fell to the next delivery at mid-wicket.

But Podmore hit Brown over cover to break the hearts of Rapids' supporters.