EXPLOSIVE hitting from Ross Whiteley led Worcestershire Rapids to a thrilling five-wicket derby win against Birmingham Bears in the NatWest T20 Blast at New Road.

Man-of-the-match Whiteley blazed an unbeaten 42 from just 20 balls to guide the County home with four balls remaining to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

George Rhodes snapped up four wickets and skipper Daryl Mitchell hit 61 for Rapids.

But the County must win at Derbyshire Falcons next Friday to stand a chance of qualifying from the North Group.

Birmingham looked on course for a huge total when they raced to 120-1 after 12 overs but lost their last nine wickets for just 35 runs to be shot out for 164.

Australian Matthew Wade (74) and opener Sam Hain (46) cracked 103 for the second Bears wicket before Rhodes took control, snapping up 4-13, including three wickets in an over.

Bears skipper Ian Bell (12) was the first to fall, caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off Matt Henry.

Bears progressed to 83-1 at the halfway stage before Wade laid into Brett D’Oliveira, helping himself to 25 runs in an over.

Wade registered his half-century off 23 balls and continued his assault, pulling Ed Barnard over mid-wicket for six.

But, crucially, the Australian was dismissed in the same over, caught by Rhodes.

Rhodes claimed his first wicket, dismissing Laurie Evans (8), caught by D’Oliveira at deep mid-wicket off a full toss.

Rhodes removed Hain (46) two balls later, caught by Jack Shantry, before dismissing Rikki Clarke (1).

Ateeq Javed (6) was run out by Barnard after attempting a second run and a fine one-handed catch by Mitchell accounted for Jeetan Patel (0) for Rhodes’ fourth victim.

Whiteley held a catch on the boundary to remove Aaron Thomason (3) off Leach and Recordo Gordon (7) holed out to Barnard off Henry, who polished off the innings for his third wicket.

In reply, Kohler-Cadmore (4) fell to Rikki Clarke in the first over and Joe Clarke (10) was bowled by Oliver Hannon-Dolby in the second.

When Gordon accounted for Joe Leach (3), Rapids were floundering at 25-3.

D’Oliveira and Mitchell lifted them to 70-3 at the halfway stage before the skipper struck the first six of the hosts’ innings, clearing square-leg boundary off Thomason.

And, in the same over, Mitchell hoisted the ball over square leg as Rapids took 19 runs from the 11th.

Mitchell reached his half-century off just 29 balls before the return of Rikki Clarke accounted for D’Oliveira (28) to end a fourth-wicket stand of 76.

Rikki Clarke (3-22) then ended Mitchell’s 37-ball vigil, containing five fours and two sixes, to leave Rapids on 109-5.

But Whiteley then stepped up, scooping Gordon for a boundary before clearing the ropes at mid-wicket and blazing a square drive into the sell-out crowd.

Whiteley followed up his big-hitting in the next over from Hannon-Dolby, clouting a four and then the biggest six of the match.

Needing four to win off the last over from Hannon-Dolby, Whiteley nudged a single off the first ball before Ben Cox (15 not out) found the boundary to complete a Rapids double.