Northamptonshire's 152 for 9 (Finch 3-28) was defeated by six wickets against Worcestershire's 153 for 4 (Kashif 88).
At Wantage Road, Kashif Ali helped lead Worcestershire Rapids to a six-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks, maintaining their hopes of qualifying, with a dominant 88 off just 46 balls, his greatest T20 total.
During a third-wicket stand of 127 with Gareth Roderick (36), Kashif was in complete control, hitting seven fours and six sixes. This was the highest total for Worcestershire against any opposition in T20 cricket, surpassing the previous record set by Brett D'Oliveira and Adam Hose against Yorkshire at Worcester just last month.
In the 15th over, Ben Sanderson (2 for 24) got rid of both set batsmen, but Worcestershire was already gaining ground and had defeated Northamptonshire for the fourth time in a row.
Earlier, as the hosts attempted to rally after a slow start, Adam Finch swept through Northamptonshire's middle order, taking three for 28, including two wickets in two balls.
The Steelbacks lost three wickets for 11 in 15 balls during the powerplay, ending the first six overs at just 34 for 3, following Tom Taylor's 2 for 22 on his return to his former club.
Sanderson was responsible for Northamptonshire's nearly competitive score of 152 for 9, as his 27 off 16 balls helped them get there.
While Khurram Shahzad was scooped for six by Ricardo Vasconcelos during Northamptonshire's powerplay, he failed to middle a pull effort against Ben Dwarshuis and instead top-edged, giving keeper Roderick enough of time to evaluate the catch.
Robinson top-edged Taylor to mid-on as he attempted to turn one to leg, then the bowler hooped one back in to send Ravi Bopara's off-stump flying. This was Taylor's third over, and he struck twice.
Dwarshuis let up just two runs in his subsequent over, which put the Steelbacks far behind the pace.
David Willey, the captain of Northamptonshire, hit two successive boundaries off Khurram through extra cover to reach the team's 50.
However, his comeback was cut short the next delivery when he sliced onto his stumps, giving Pakistani Khurram (2 for 40) his maiden wicket in Worcestershire.
When Justin Broad (19) lunged for a wide delivery from Fateh Singh and pulled it against his stumps, he became the fifth wicket despite having played his shots.
Then, in the sixteenth over, Finch hit twice, giving up Saif Zaib and Lewis McManus within four balls. A full ball that clattered into the base of the stumps first undid McManus.
The next ball from Finch was dragged to deep backward square-leg by Zaib, who then sent one soaring past extra cover.
Isaac Mohammed then made a spectacular diving catch. Khurram was hit straight to cover, becoming Finch's third victim after George Bartlett scooped him for six.
Sanderson hit 14 off Shahzad's penultimate over after pulling Dwarshuis for six. He dissected two cover fielders after first launching a free hit off of the ground and then inside edging for four.
Khurram's last delivery bowled him, but Northamptonshire reached 150 thanks to a boundary from George Scrimshaw. In the chase, Brett D'Oliveira was bowled stepping away, Mohammed hit straight to mid-off, and Willey (2 for 22) hit twice in his opening overs.
From the beginning, Kashif played well, getting a straight six off Sanderson and a nice straight drive against Willey. As the Rapids finished the powerplay at 44 for 2, he attacked Broad, hitting two consecutive boundaries before tugging over midwicket.
Prior to Kashif hitting Scrimshaw for a huge six over deep midwicket, Roderick, who had started cautiously, relished Scrimshaw's added pace. A pair of boundaries increased Worcestershire's score to 50 from 26 balls.
Before running two to achieve his half-century off 24 balls, Kashif took another six off a similar hit in the pacer's subsequent over.
After Scrimshaw let up 31 runs in his first two overs, Roderick ended the over with yet another maximum. Despite being hit in the foot by Willey's superb yorker, Kashif continued to score runs.
He came down the wicket to hit Pope over deep midwicket, attacking his spin as well. Roderick spooned a catch around the corner, but some lustful strokes from Ethan Brookes helped cement the victory.
Sanderson then broke the partnership, with Kashif dropping to a well-timed catch in the deep by Broad.
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