WORCESTERSHIRE went down by 18 runs in their opening NatWest T20 Blast clash with Birmingham Bears under floodlights at Edgbaston.

The home side scored 144-5 after being put into bat but two needless run outs and some disappointing shot execution contributed to the Rapids downfall.

They were eventually bowled out for 126 in the final over.

The Rapids gave a first team competitive debut to all-rounder Ed Barnard who had shown promise in the non first-class match against New Zealand.

Joe Leach made the breakthrough when William Porterfield, who struck three sixes in his 27, was bowled with 31 on the board in the fifth over.

Tom Lewis and Varun Chopra added 45 before the former on 27 gave Sachithra Senanayake the charge and was stumped by Ben Cox.

Six runs later Chopra (22) holed out to Ross Whiteley at deep mid-wicket off the impressive Brett D’Oliveira who struck for the second time when Rikki Clarke (3) went to cut and was bowled.

It became 104-5 when Laurie Evans (20) was caught at extra-cover by Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell off Shantry.

Some clean hitting by Jeetan Patel, with an unbeaten 23 off 10 balls, and Ateeq Javid (18 not out) gave the Bears' innings impetus as they closed on 144-5.

D’Oliveira finished with the excellent figures of 2-21 from his four overs.

Worcestershire needed to score at 7.25 runs per over and Richard Oliver fell without a run on the board in Rikki Clarke’s opening over, caught at cover-point by Laurie Evans off a leading edge.

Kohler-Cadmore got the scoreboard moving with a six and four in Chris Wright’s first over which cost 17 runs. But having reached 34-1, Recordo Gordon picked up two wickets in his first over.

Kohler-Cadmore (21) lofted a full toss to mid-wicket and Clarke took a good catch over his shoulder and then Alex Gidman (0) was caught behind by Tim Ambrose.

Barnard (5) surrendered his wicket when setting off for a risky single after playing Gordon to cover point and he was run out with both batsmen at the non-striker’s end.

Mitchell batted well for 34 but sucumbed to Patel after hoisting the New Zealand spinner to deep mid-wicket.

Then the Rapids suffered another run out when Ross Whiteley played Javid to mid-on and set off for another risky looking run and Ben Cox (1) was run out at the striker’s end.

Whiteley looked in good touch in making 33 but Worcestershire’s hopes ended as he was caught at long-on off Javid.

Leach became Clarke’s third victim when he was bowled for 10 and it all ended when Jack Shantry (1) also departed to Gordon.