THE Worcestershire Rapids cruised into the Metro Bank One Day Cup quarter-finals after a convincing eight-wicket win over Sussex Sharks at New Road on Sunday. 

The Rapids needed a win to make sure of their place in the knockout stages of the 50-over tournament, and they did in style with another brilliant all-round performance.

Josh Baker (3-35), Logan van Beek (2-34) and Dillon Pennington (2-44) chipped in with wickets at regular intervals as The Rapids bowled Sussex out for 190.

The home side were always favourite to go on and successfully chase the total but they did so in comprehensive fashion, losing just two wickets in their innings, with Azhar Ali top-scoring on 74 in substantial partnerships with Gareth Roderick (41) and Kashif Ali (53).

The Rapids will now wait to see whether they finish second or third in the Group B table, which will determine whether they play their quarter-final at home or on the road. 

Sussex won the toss and decided to bat but lost three early wickets at the Rapids' bowlers got stuck into the top order. Matthew Waite and Dillon Pennington made instant breakthroughs to dismiss Harrison Ward, Tom Haines and Tom Alsop as Sussex slipped to 19-3.

A 46-run stand between Zach Lion-Cachet and James Coles steadied the ship before the rapids struck twice in quick succession to put the pressure on. Jake Libby brilliantly ran out Coles with a superb direct throw at the stumps and Baker picked up his first wicket when bowling Lion-Cachet.

Baker recorded his second wicket when Charlie Tear edged to Rob Jones for the sixth wicket but Danial Ibrahim and Bertie Foreman then gave Sussex hope with a 66-run partnership.

Baker broke Foreman's resistance and from there, the visitors lost their final three wickets for 25 runs as the Rapids bowled their opposition out for the second game running. 

The hosts were in prime position to put themselves into the knockout stages and when Azhar Ali and Roderick put on 82 for the first-wicket, Rapids had one foot in the quarters.

Roderick was caught by Ward off the bowling of Foreman, but that brought Kashif Ali to the crease, who continued his sensational form with another swashbuckling knock.

He scored five 6s and two 4s on his way to 53-not out from just 26 deliveries and despite Azhar being caught on 74, Kashif wrapped things up in style with a maximum over the boundary.