WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids took over at the top of the NatWest T20 Blast North Group with a tense four-wicket win at Derbyshire Falcons tonight.

Joe Leach and Ben Cox guided the County home with three balls left to ensure a quarter-final place but the chances of a home tie remain in the balance.

Birmingham Bears are level on points with Rapids with a poorer run-rate and Northamptonshire are three points behind but they play their game in hand against each other at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Bottom-of-the-table Falcons produced a spirited effort at Derby with 149-8 before the visitors won with 150-6 after Richard Oliver (45) and Colin Munro (30) set them on the way.

Skipper and opener Wes Durston (32 off 29 balls) and Billy Godleman (33 off 24) proved the mainstays of Derbyshire’s innings with one and three sixes respectively.

But their total was given a much-needed boost to 149 by the late contributions of Wayne Madsen (18 off 17), Alex Hughes (20 off 12) and Tom Knight (21 off 20).

Spinner Saeed Ajmal returned impressive figures again of 2-21 from four overs.

Leach also took two wickets but conceded 36 runs, while fellow seamer Jack Shantry (1-15) was more economical.

Rapids opener Oliver provided a solid base in reply off 38 balls with seven fours. Munro enjoyed a better innings before his exit on New Zealand duty with three fours and one six from 19 balls.

In-form Ross Whiteley (16 off 10) blasted two sixes before Cox (6 not out off 11) and Leach (18no off 12) led Rapids home in the last over.

Now relegation-threatened Worcestershire start their LV= County Championship Division One clash against leaders Yorkshire at Scarborough tomorrow (11am).