Bars stay open at New Road as Worcestershire book place in their first ever T20 Blast final

SAM MORSHEAD AT EDGBASTON: In a game which swung one way and then the other as a matter of routine, the Rapids defended 169 for six remarkably comfortably, as first Moeen Ali and then Pat Brown produced superb spells of white-ball bowling

^{Worcestershire Rapids have reached the T20 Blast final}

Edgbaston: Worcestershire Rapids 169-6, Lancashire Lightning 149-9 - Worcestershire Rapids won by 20 runs

Worcestershire’s Graeme Hick Pavilion will have to remain open a little longer on Finals Day.

The clubhouse at New Road opened especially on Saturday to allow fans without tickets for the Edgbaston extravaganza to watch their team in action, with the proviso that time would be called if the Rapids failed to get beyond their semi-final clash.

Takings behind the bar are set to be pretty healthy now, however, thanks to the nerves-of-steel display against Lancashire Lightning which ensured the county will be involved in their first ever T20 Blast final.

In a game which swung one way and then the other as a matter of routine, the Rapids defended their total of 169 for six remarkably comfortably, as first Moeen Ali and then Pat Brown produced superb spells of white-ball bowling on what appears to be an excellent batting wicket.

It was a highly unpredictable semi-final.

Worcestershire posted 169 for six

Ben Cox’s blitzkreig half-century at the back end of the Worcestershire innings rescued his side after they had got stuck in the Lancashire spinners’ web during the middle overs but Lancashire started their chase strongly and, with Liam Livingstone at the crease and hitting the ball crisply, it seemed as though it would be Lightning’s day.

However, a dazzling spell of spin bowling from Moeen, whose four overs cost just 16 and came with two wickets, including that of Buttler, dragged the Rapids back into contention.

And then Brown’s masterclass at the death - a bamboozling collection of wide yorkers and superbly-disguised slower balls - took the Rapids into the last two.

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Earlier, Worcestershire had also been fast out of the traps and by the end of the third over, had 37 with Moeen 32 from 12 balls.

Lancashire needed an intervention and Faulkner provided just that, knocking over Joe Clarke’s leg peg as the Rapids opener tried to heave over midwicket, but losing his partner didn’t encourage a change of tack from Moeen.

Worcestershire managed 56 from the powerplay, aided by their opponents’ sloppiness in the field, and the foundations were laid for a substantial total.

Lancashire were unable to chase down the target

However, with an extra fielder in the deep the runs began to dry up. And then wickets began to tumble.

Moeen, trying to accelerate the innings once more, chipped a catch up to  at long-off, Brett D’Oliveira was run out without facing and Tom Fell neatly stumped by Jos Buttler off a terrific delivery from Matt Parkinson.

From 70 for one, the Rapids were 70 for four and choking.

With the Worcestershire batsmen able to provide the Heimlich Manoeuvre, and with all momentum lost, the innings threatened to meander to a close from a long way out - like a Formula One car with its tank dry heading out of the final bend.

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Parkinson bowled Ross Whiteley with another drifting, teasing delivery and Daryl Mitchell was trapped lbw by Jordan Clark. Impetus: lost.

Luckily for the Rapids, they had Cox in reserve. The wicketkeeper’s brutal late-innings assault - a 32-ball half-century which included three towering sixes to long-on in a single Lester over - lifted his side to a score of some respectability, though no more than par on a good track.

Lancashire, opting not to open with Buttler, lost Alex Davies early in the chase - run out attempting to steal a run after a fumble in the field, but were quickly into their stride.

Livingstone took centre stage, striking the ball cleanly - one giant six into the legside off Wayne Parnell bounced off the top of the Eric Hollies Stand roof - and at 55 for one after the powerplay Lightning were primed to strike.

Worcestershire had never reached a T20 Blast final before

But Worcestershire weren’t done yet.

Barnard forced a Livingstone miscue, which ended in the safe clasp of D’Oliveira at backward point, and Arron Lilley was pinned lbw by Moeen.

Now the contest became more tetchy as the occasion’s England stars - Moeen, Buttler and Keaton Jennings - all came together at the crease at the same time.

Moeen, bowling with the rhythm and fluency of the summer’s final two Test matches, kept the pair from accelerating, limiting the destructive Buttler to a smattering of singles.

Then, the crucial moment. Buttler bowled via the bottom edge for 12. Advantage Worcestershire.

Lancashire never really recovered. Hennings remained at the crease but could not find the runs fast enough, Dane Vilas was run out just as he started to look set and James Faulkner came to the wicket with a runner and looking in some discomfort at the crease.

Jennings got to fifty but not until it was too late. Worcestershire are Blast finalists.