WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids cannot afford any slip-ups against Lancashire tomorrow in their must-win Royal London One-Day Cup clash at New Road (11am).
Daryl Mitchell’s men must overcome Lancashire and then Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Monday (2pm) in their final group game to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
A damaging 23-run defeat in a high-scoring midweek home match against Northamptonshire left Rapids languishing seventh in the North Group and on the brink of elimination.
The County have picked up five points and are two adrift of fourth-placed Notts.
Lancashire won by seven wickets on their last visit to New Road earlier this month in the NatWest T20 Blast.
But the destructive Jos Buttler, who cracked a 20-ball half-century in that match and also fractured his left thumb, is out through injury.
Lancashire are coached by Droitwich-based Ashes winner Ashley Giles and are second bottom of the group with five points, the same tally as Worcestershire.
Inspired by Liam Livingstone (98) and Kyle Jarvis (4-31), they sealed a vital 27-run win against Derbyshire on Wednesday.
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