Dawid Malan keeps Yorkshire's Blast hopes alive at Worcestershire

The Vikings chased down a 206 target to win by six wickets with just three balls to spare, with Malan the hero after an unbeaten 93 off 50 balls.

They though never panicked despite being well behind the required run rate at 74-1 at the half-way stage and requiring another 132 from the final 10 overs.

Adam Lyth, James Wharton and Jordan Thompson, with a late order hitting blitz, all provided important cameos in support.

Only once have Yorkshire chased a bigger total to win when they reached a 208 target against  Durham at Headingley two years ago.

Worcestershire had topped 200 for the first time this season thanks to aggressive batting from Brett D’Oliveira, Josh Cobb, Ethan Brookes and Rob Jones.

Vikings captain Shan Masood won the toss and put the Rapids into bat.

Ben Cliff took the new ball and struck in his second over when Ed Pollock (10) holed out to Adam Lyth at mid on.

But a succession of boundaries from D’Oliveira and Josh Cobb meant the Rapids’ 50 came up in 4.2 overs.

Cobb tucked into Cliff with 4-4-6 off successive deliveries as the Rapids ended the powerplay on 67-1.

D’Oliveira carved Jordan Thompson over backward point to complete a 23 ball half-century stand.

Three times in the opening seven overs the Vikings conceded 18 runs.

Jafer Chohan's superb 4-29 kept Yorkshire in with a chance. (Image: Mike Egerton/PA)

The introduction of Jafer Chohan ended the partnership on 64 with D’Oliveira (42 off 28 balls) easily stumped after coming down the pitch to the spinner.

Gareth Roderick then tried to reverse sweep Chohan and was bowled but the Rapids were well placed at 106-3 at the halfway stage.

Josh Cobb became Chohan’s third victim before Ethan Brookes, having hit 44 off 21 balls, perished at cover.

Jones sustained the momentum for Worcestershire by making an unbeaten 35 from 25 balls.

When Yorkshire batted, Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan played themselves in before gradually accelerating to reach 41-0 at the end of the powerplay.

The rate climbed above 12 runs an over and Lyth was pouched out cover off Brookes with 66 on the board in the 10th.

Malan then struck Matthew Waite for six over mid wicket to complete a 32-ball half-century.

Brookes came back to end a cameo 24 off 12 balls from James Wharton as he picked out long off and in the same over Donovan Ferreira went after D’Oliveira backpedalled from cover.

Malan struck 20 off a Cobb over to reduce the target to 64 from the final five overs.

But Brookes had more joy when Masood found the hands of long off.

It was the Rapids’ last success as Thompson delivered a series of massive blows to see his side over the finishing line with three balls to spare. He ended unbeaten on 40 from just 14 balls with four sixes.