At Visit Worcestershire New Road, Lancashire Lightning maintained their strong Vitality Blast start with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Worcestershire Rapids. In 19.1 overs, Rapids were bowled out for 143 after choosing to bat. As the innings failed to recover from the early damage caused by James Anderson and Luke Wood, only Gareth Roderick (35 from 28 balls) resisted for an extended period. Keaton Jennings (42 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (41 not out off 22) led a strong top-order effort that helped Lightning reach 146 for 3 with 15 balls remaining. Rapids won the toss, but in the first seven balls, they lost both openers. From Anderson, Brett D'Oliveira edged his first ball to slip, and Wood struck with his first ball when he caught Ed Pollock low and wide. Jake Libby almost pulled Anderson for six, and Jack Blatherwick made a stunning one-handed catch just inside the long leg rope to prevent Wood from doing the same. Wood took his third wicket when Ethan Brookes pulled to midwicket. The Rapids were 46 for 5 with one ball left in the powerplay when Adam Hose edged Tom Aspinwall to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst. Roderick and Ben Dwarhuis arrested the slide with a stand of 46 in 29 balls before the latter pulled Aspinwall to deep midwicket. Lancashire caught well, and when Matthew Waite sought six over fine leg off Blatherwick, Michael Jones made a perfect catch despite the pressure of knowing that one backward step would send him over the rope. Lancashire caught well. When Roderick sliced Anderson to third, his defiance came to an end. That left Rapids' last two wickets with 27 balls at their disposal. Jacob Duffy heaved Wood to the foot of the chestnut tree in a violent unbeaten 24 off 12 to at least give him something to bowl at but Rapids were well short. The home side desperately needed early wickets but took only one in the powerplay, Luke Wells, who edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Roderick. Jennings and Matty Hurst added 63 in 46 balls and when Hurst was well-caught at long leg by Duffy, his belligerent cameo had, with Jennings, left Lancashire well in charge of the chase.