Solid collective efforts with both bat and ball earned Worcestershire Rapids an 18-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes in their Vitality Blast opener at Uptonsteel Grace Road.

Put in, the Rapids totalled 188 for nine thanks to a string of small but punchy contributions led by Isaac Mohammed (a T20-best 42 from 26 balls.) Josh Davey took three for 32.

The Foxes were then restricted to 170 for four having never recovered from losing three wickets in ten balls to hit 32 for three. Aussie signing Nick Kelly hit an unbeaten 61 (42) and Ben Cox an unbeaten 51 (32) but they were always playing catch-up and 57 from the last three overs proved far too many.

Mohammed christened the Rapids’ Blast campaign with a handsomely-driven four off Josh Hull and, with Brett D’Oliveira crashed 43 from 23 balls before the latter slogged Ben Green to mid on. Mohammed struck six fours and two sixes but perished to the last ball of the powerplay when he skied Davey to mid-off.

Kashif Ali and Adam Hose flared briefly but each fell the ball after hitting a six. Ali edged Ben Mike behind and Hose hoiked Ashton Turner to deep mid-wicket. It proved to be an innings of cameos as Ethan Brookes and debutant Sikandar Raza added 40 from 23 balls but then both sent up catches in the space of four balls from Davey. Usama Mir took the cameo concept to an extreme – he hit his first ball for six, his second for a single and his third, off Green, to mid off.

The Foxes’ reply started sedately, just 30 coming from the first five overs for loss of Steve Estinazi who missed a frustrated slog at Tom Taylor and lost his middle-stump. The sixth over, Adam Finch’s first, upped the pressure on the home side as Sol Budinger and Rishi Patel each picked out D’Oliveira at extra cover and mid-wicket respectively.

Finch’s second over was less successful, Kelly lifting him for two sixes, but Mir removed Kelly’s fellow Aussie, caught at long off by Jake Libby, fielding as a sub for Hose who tweaked his back while batting.

The Foxes needed a big finish – 78 from the last six overs. But though Kelly reached a 38-ball century, and added 89 with former Rapids stumper Ben Cox, they could find enough big blows against a disciplined attack in which, as with the bat, numerous players contributed valuably.