Worcestershire Rapids responded to a difficult week by reigniting their Vitality Blast campaign with a 36-run victory over reigning champions Somerset at New Road.

After a mixed start with the bat, the Rapids were lifted by an unbroken 58-run partnership between Sikandar Raza and Brett D’Oliveira, who accelerated the innings to a competitive total of 180.

Somerset’s chase began steadily with Tom Banton and James Rew making starts, but Worcestershire seized control midway through the innings. Usama Mir triggered a collapse of three wickets for three runs, while Matthew Waite produced another impressive spell to help secure a win that keeps the Rapids’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

Asked to bat first, openers Kashif Ali and Isaac Mohammed made an aggressive start, adding 33 for the first wicket. Mohammed struck several early boundaries before Kashif departed for 10, caught at mid-on after mistiming a short delivery.

Mohammed continued positively, making 34 from 23 balls before being trapped lbw by Daniel Sams shortly after the powerplay. Gareth Roderick and new captain Adam Hose rebuilt, taking the score past 50 in the eighth over.

Roderick counterattacked effectively, striking two fours and a six before taking 16 runs from Josh Shaw’s ninth over. Worcestershire reached 80 for 2 at the halfway stage, but quick dismissals for Roderick and Hose, both caught at long-on, briefly halted their momentum.

Raza and D’Oliveira then rebuilt the innings. D’Oliveira found regular boundaries, while Raza targeted the leg side with a series of powerful strokes, including consecutive sixes after a replacement ball was required.

The pair added 50 before Raza’s 22-ball 42, featuring five fours and two sixes, ended when he mistimed a cut shot. Henry Cullen added valuable late runs, including a six, while D’Oliveira finished unbeaten on 41 from 24 deliveries after striking two boundaries in the final over to lift Worcestershire to 180.

Somerset lost Will Smeed early when Tom Taylor induced a catch at mid-on, well held by Ben Allison. Taylor struck again in the following over as stand-in skipper Tom Kohler-Cadmore miscued a return catch, leaving Somerset 42 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

James Rew and Banton steadied the chase with a 60-run partnership, taking the visitors to 84 for 2 before Worcestershire produced the decisive spell of the match.

Waite broke the stand by dismissing Rew for 36, caught by Kashif at deep midwicket. Mir then removed Banton for 30, deceiving him in flight before D’Oliveira completed the catch at long-on.

Two balls later, Thomas Rew was trapped lbw by Mir, reducing Somerset to 87 for 5 after losing three wickets for three runs. Mir completed his spell with figures of 3 for 34 as Worcestershire took firm control.

Daniel Sams fell soon after, caught by Kashif, before Waite removed Lewis Goldsworthy and Craig Overton to finish with figures of 3 for 23. Allison claimed the final wicket of Alfie Ogborne as Somerset were dismissed 36 runs short.