A "strange" game left Worcestershire Rapids on the wrong side of a six-wicket defeat in their latest Vitality Blast outing.
Gareth Roderick top-scored with 47 from 32 balls in Worcester's clash with Northants Steelbacks, who chased down the target despite a determined Rapids display.
The match, which saw the visitors’ innings reduced by two overs due to mid-innings rain, left Worcester three wins from six in the T20 Central and West Group as the tournament reaches its halfway stage.
Roderick said: "It was quite a strange game in truth.
"It is always difficult when the rain comes in, but we were probably short in truth, and they got off to a flyer, which is what Chris Lynn can do to you.
"You never really know in those situations because you don’t face them too often, but on reflection maybe another 20 runs may have put us in a better position."
The Rapids posted 154 in their rain-shortened 18 overs, with Sikandar Raza contributing 36 and Ethan Brookes adding 19.
But a powerful start from Northamptonshire opener Chris Lynn set the tone for the chase as the home side remained unbeaten.
Roderick praised the fight shown by his teammates, especially the spin bowlers who managed to rein in the Steelbacks during the middle overs.
He said: "I thought we did a really good job to drag it back in the middle with our spinners, who have been excellent for us all year.
"On the scoreboard it looks like quite a wide margin, but it certainly didn’t feel like that for long periods."
Reflecting on the broader campaign, Roderick said the break for red-ball cricket could serve the Rapids well when they return to the Blast in three weeks’ time.
He said: "I started poorly, but I felt like I kicked on towards the end.
"In T20 we know as a top six we need to be kicking on and getting big scores and we have addressed it as a group, going on and getting that score.
"We are working on it, but it is very rare that not one bloke comes off and it clicks, because that is all it takes to win you a game.
"We have had a couple of poor performances, and I don’t think this counts as one of those, but we have been in plenty of games and have had opportunities, but we know the proof is in the pudding and if we don’t win enough games to get us through then we won’t."
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