WORCESTERSHIRE bid for their first Lord’s final in 14 years when Kent Spitfires visit Blackfinch New Road on Sunday (11am).

Kevin Sharp’s North Group winners are missing injured seamers Joe Leach and Josh Tongue as well as all-rounder Moeen Ali on England duty.

But Rapids’ Royal London One-Day Cup progress to the 50-over semi-finals has been a real team effort.

And that will need to be reproduced against Spitfires who thrashed reigning champions Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge in Thursday’s play-off.

Losing 2004 C&G Trophy finalists Worcestershire are to be captained by experienced Australian Callum Ferguson in captain Leach’s absence.

Ferguson has led the way with the bat for Rapids with an average of 121.33 in four innings thanks to two big centuries.

Wicketkeeper Ben Cox is also impressing with a 54.80 average while Ed Barnard has been an all-round star with 51.50 and 15 wickets for 26.87 with the ball as the County’s top performing one-day seamer.

Former skipper Daryl Mitchell boasts 42.67 with the bat, big-hitting Ross Whiteley 38.20, England Lions star Joe Clarke 35.38 and Brett D’Oliveira 31.17.

Off-spinner Moeen had shone with the ball for Rapids by taking 11 wickets but the County can also take pace off with the likes of D’Oliveira, who has taken nine at 35.11, and Mitchell.

Seamer Charlie Morris has also enjoyed success with 11 wickets at 32.00.

Rapids won six games and lost only two in finishing one point ahead of second-placed Notts in their group.

Kent, meanwhile, managed third in the South Group with five victories and three defeats before stunning Notts in the play-off match by nine wickets.

Ex-Worcestershire bowler and New Zealand international Matt Henry took one wicket but the bulk fell to young pace bowler Harry Podmore (4-57) and slow left-armer Imran Qayyum (2-45) as Notts were restricted to 255-8 from their 50 overs.

But Spitfires then took off with the bat to win with 14 overs to spare through England prospect Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 79 from 73 balls, South African Heino Kuhn’s 124 not out from 114 deliveries and Joe Denly’s 52no from just 28.

International Denly was particularly brutal with four fours and five sixes.

Rapids have plenty of their own attacking weapons with the bat though and will hope to produce better than last season’s semi-final let-down at New Road.

The County had again starred in the group stages but failed to fire with a Lord’s final calling as Surrey romped home by 153 runs.

Rapids had no answer to Surrey’s 363-7 and fell away to 210 all out despite 55 from Whiteley and D’Oliveira’s 53.

This season’s Lord’s final will be on Saturday, June 30, with Rapids or Spitfires facing the winners of Hampshire and Yorkshire Vikings which will be played on Monday in Southampton.