Match scores (The County Ground)
Worcestershire win by 5 wickets (D/L Method)
Derbyshire inns: 209-8 (36 overs. Thakor 60, Hughes 37; Barnard 3-37, Leach 2-43)
Worcestershire inns: 218-5 (32 overs. Mitchell 67, Kohler-Cadmore 63; Viljoen 3-55)
Match report
Tom Kohler-Cadmore demolished Derbyshire's bowling before Worcestershire survived a late wobble to celebrate a five-wicket victory under Duckworth/Lewis which saw them finish top in the Royal London One-Day Cup North Group.
Chasing a revised target of 218 from 36 overs in a rain-hit contest at Derby, Kohler-Cadmore struck 63 including three sixes and eight fours off only 34 balls before Daryl Mitchell's measured 67 from 71 balls guided the visitors to their first semi-final since 2004.
Shiv Thakor top-scored with 63 for the Falcons but Ed Barnard's three for 37 from seven overs restricted the home side to 209 for eight and although Hardus Viljoen took three late wickets, it was not enough to deny the Rapids.
Worcestershire went into the game knowing they would finish top if they won and they started well by restricting Derbyshire to 34 from the opening power play with Barnard tempting Ben Slater into an edged drive to second slip.
After a lengthy rain break, Barnard took his second wicket when Billy Godleman cut to point and Thakor was given a life on 30 when Josh Tongue spilled a pull at fine leg.
Wayne Madsen reverse swept Nathan Lyon for four in the Australian's first over for the county but then miscued a pull at Joe Leach to end a stand of 51 in nine overs with Thakor.
The all-rounder was dropped again on 42 when former Derbyshire batsman Ross Whiteley failed to hold a sweep off Lyon whose next ball was deposited over long on by Alex Hughes who drove Brett D'Oliveira for two sixes in an over which cost 17.
Hughes was dropped by Jack Shantry at fine leg on 30 off Barnard but Thakor's luck ended in the 29th over when he drove Tongue to short cover and Hughes fell to a top-edged sweep at Lyon in the 30th.
Daryn Smit improvised well, reverse scooping Barnard for six, to take the Falcons to 209 for eight but Kohler-Cadmore went into overdrive, swinging Ben Cotton for two sixes and taking three fours off the fourth over from Viljoen.
He drove the South African for another six over long off before cutting him for his sixth four to reach 50 off 26 balls and after 10 overs Worcestershire had powered to 86, but Smit took an excellent catch standing up to Thakor to remove Kohler-Cadmore.
The opener's explosive innings had taken the Rapids a long way down the road and although Tom Fell swung Jeevan Mendis to wide mid on for a run-a-ball 24, they went into the last 16 overs needing only 79.
Mitchell completed a more sedate 50 with consecutive fours off Matt Critchley and although he got a leading edge off Viljoen, who struck three times in three overs, Whiteley sealed victory with a six in the 33rd over.
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