WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids’ outside hopes of reaching the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals have been crushed after a 29-run defeat at Derbyshire Falcons.

Hamish Rutherford’s 64 from 38 balls and Wayne Madsen’s unbeaten 50 lifted Derbyshire to an imposing 192-5.

Despite 44 from Brett D’Oliveira, Rapids lost too many early wickets and slid to 163 all-out in their must-win North Group clash.

Derbyshire made a positive start, racing to 25-0 after three overs.

Charlie Morris claimed the first wicket at 32, removing skipper Wes Durston (10), who was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

The safe hands of Kohler-Cadmore accounted for Neil Broom (5) as Morris (2-30 from four overs) picked up his second scalp.

Derbyshire brought up their 50 af- ter six overs.

Rutherford and Chesney Hughes took 17 runs off D’Oliveira (0-23 from two) in the ninth over as the hosts progressed to 91-2 at the halfway mark.

Rutherford reached his half-century off 30 balls and the hosts brought up their hundred in the 11th over.

However, Worcestershire broke the 52-run partnership with the next ball, D’Oliveira taking a catch to dismiss Chesney Hughes (27) off Ed Barnard.

Madsen hit a six off Barnard (2-43 from four) before Rutherford was caught by D’Oliveira in the same over with the total at 128.

Barnard held a catch in the deep, off Jack Shantry (1-30 from four), to remove Jimmy Neesham (22).

Madsen reached his half-century from the final delivery of the Falcons’ innings, while Joe Leach (0-36 from three) received punishment.

In reply, Leach struck three boundaries in the opening over before Kohler-Cadmore (9) was removed by Ben Cotton in the third.

Late inclusion Alexei Kervezee (2) fell to Shiv Thakor’s first ball as Worcestershire slipped to 24-2.

Leach (17) was then caught off Neesham as the visitors lost early wickets in their run-chase.

A couple of lusty blows from D’Oliveira lifted Rapids to 50-3 at the end of the six-over powerplay.

Daryl Mitchell (19) holed out to Chesney Hughes off Durston and Rapids progressed to 79-4 at the midway point in their innings.

Ross Whiteley (27) launched Durston for two sixes until he perished to Matthew Critchley.

Wicketkeeper Ben Cox (17) blasted two sixes before he fell to Critchley (3-36) and then, crucially, D’Oliveira was dismissed next ball.

George Rhodes (8) and Shantry (5) both fell cheaply and Morris was Worcestershire’s final man to go, run out by Madsen for three in 17.5 overs.