WORCESTER Rapids return to NatWest T20 Blast action against Lancashire Lightning at New Road on Friday (5.30pm) after their seven-wicket drubbing by Derbyshire Falcons.

Rapids will be aiming for revenge against the champions after they were crushed at Old Trafford by 96 runs last month.

Worcestershire are third in the North Group with Lancashire sixth, but they have played two more matches than fourth-placed Nottinghamshire and one more than fifth-placed Durham.

Derbyshire ended a run of three successive defeats and dealt a blow to Worcestershire’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals after last Friday’s emphatic success at New Road.

Worcestershire recovered pretty well from a dismal start to set a target of 186 thanks to some spectacular late, big hitting by Ben Cox (59 not out) and Matt Henry (35 not out).

However, Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes 43 guided the visitors home with seven balls remaining.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “There are definitely areas we can improve upon. We probably lost too many wickets early doors before an amazing innings from Ben Cox – the way he executed his shots was so innovative.”