WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids' winning streak in the T20 Vitality Blast came to an end on Friday night as rivals Birmingham Bears proved too good in a 53-run win at a raucous Edgbaston. 

Half-centuries from Bears' Rob Yates (59) and Dan Moulsey (51), as well as a 44 from Glen Maxwell proved decisive as the hosts posted a big score of 228-4 from their 20 overs. 

The current league leaders in the North Group then confirmed their qualification for the quarter-finals after the bowlers did the business, Moulsey the pick of the bunch with 4-41. 

READ MORE | Richardson urges Rapids to 'lick their wounds and get on with it' after derby defeat at Edgbaston

The Rapids drop to third in the table but are still right in the mix for a quarter-final place, needing one win from their final two games to book their spot.

Rob Yates and Alex Davies put on 80 runs for the first wicket partnership as the Rapids struggled to make inroads early on. 

Mitchell Santner made the breakthrough for the visitors as Davies was caught by Ben Cox for 29 but the Bears would put on another hefty partnership for the second wicket as Yates and Glen Maxwell took the game to the Rapids.

Maxwell raced along to 44 from just 20 balls after hitting five 4s and three 6s, contributing 42 runs of the 50 partnership with Davies.

Dillon Pennington finally had Yates caught and bowled for 59 before Santner removed Maxwell soon after.

But the Rapids bowlers were struggling and another sizeable partnership put the Bears in control. 

Dan Moulsey smashed four 6s in a 51-run innings and Chris Benjamin added 29 not-out off 15 deliveries as the hosts posted a convincing 228.

The Bears dropped four catches in the deep as the Rapids began their chase, with Brett D'Oliveira and Jack Haynes riding their luck but they survived and moved out toward the 50-run mark.

But Mousley came into the attack and bowled D'Oliveira (28) with his first ball of the innings before Jack Haynes was then brilliantly caught by Yates for 34. 

Adam Hose, against his former club, could only add six runs before being stumped by Davies.

Santner and Kashif Ali were tasked with trying to bring the run chase down and they did so with boundaries as both knocked fours and sixes. 

But Ali dragged onto his stumps looking to smash Hassan Ali to the ropes for 12.

Moulsey then took two wickets in two deliveries as Cox (7) and Usama Mir (0) fell to leave the Rapids 133/6 and right up against it. 

Santner reached his half-century in the 15th over but the result was all but assured when he was bowled by the impressive Moulsey, who registered figures of 4-41.