PAT Brown has revealed Worcestershire Rapids' determination to make up for Royal London One-Day Cup heartbreak when they bid to reach T20 finals day for the first time.

This summer's Vitality Blast leading wicket-taker and his team-mates have won the North Group in both shorter-format competitions.

They lost the 50-over semi-final by two wickets at Blackfinch New Road after centuries by Rapids wicketkeeper Ben Cox and Kent’s Heino Kuhn.

The defeat has given them an extra edge to avoid that disappointment when they host Gloucestershire in the T20 quarter-final on Saturday (3pm).

Brown, who celebrated his 20th birthday this week, said: “It is a great opportunity for us to get to finals day which we haven’t done before and all of the lads are really driven to do that so hopefully we can put on a good show and get through.

“Does the semi-final loss give it that extra edge? It probably makes us more keen to put that right.

“We learnt quite a lot as a team. I know I certainly did and the other lads as well probably learnt a lot from that heartbreak.

“Hopefully we can all use that to get to finals day and go all the way.

“The game against Kent could have gone either way. Throughout the group stage we were on the right end of that sort of result more often than that.

“We don’t play Gloucestershire very often in T20. We will show them plenty of respect.

“Over 14 games to win enough to qualify means you are a good side and there are some good teams in that South Group.

“Hampshire won the One-Day Cup and they are nowhere in the T20. It shows the strength that teams have so Gloucestershire will be a good test for us. But hopefully we can show we are just a bit better.”

University of Worcester student Brown has spearheaded Rapids' attack to great effect after initially breaking into the first-team squad last summer.

He said: “This group has got real character and we’ve shown that on lots of occasions, whether it be during a game coming back from a situation where we look like losing or as in the semi-final being 30-3 and scoring 300.

“We’ve got lads who will stand up during a game. We’re a strong group where after a loss like that we can use it to our advantage and get back on the horse.”

Brown’s 27 Blast wickets have come in just 12 games compared to the 33 in 19 by Somerset’s Alfonso Thomas in 2010 — the best in an English domestic T20 campaign.

He said: “I couldn’t tell you why it is happening or what I’ve done to make this T20 season go so well for myself but while it is going so well I’m going to try to hold on for as long as I can and keep doing what I have been.

“I’ve been told a few times about not being far off the record. It’s not something I’d looked at until I was told. It is a good thing to go after.

"I was aiming for 30 about halfway through. If I get to 30, I’ll be really happy.”

Impressed Rapids skipper Moeen Ali told the players after last week’s win over Birmingham Bears that Brown was producing international-class bowling.

Brown added: “I got a bit of a blush on when he said that. It’s really nice to hear that from someone of his stature who has gone to the IPL and played a lot of cricket in all formats for England.

“I’ve been trying to bowl the same as last year when it wasn’t going so well. I’ll do the same next game regardless of what people say, whether I’ve taken 10 wickets or 27.

“It’s nice to hear but I’m trying to stay grounded and carry on trying to do the right things.”