Wayne Parnell five-wicket haul condemns Nottinghamshire to first defeat

Nottinghamshire missed the chance to confirm their place in the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup after suffering their first defeat of the campaign at Worcestershire.

The Outlaws have taken control of the North Group after five successive wins to start the tournament but an uncharacteristically poor performance with the bat saw them skittled for 121.

Rapids all-rounder Wayne Parnell did the damage with figures of five for 24, including three wickets in a single over, before Tom Fell’s unbeaten 48 guided the hosts home with 24.5 overs to spare at New Road.

Victory moved the Rapids level with Lancashire and Durham in a three-way tie for second place, two points behind the Outlaws at the top of the North Group with two games to play.

Nottinghamshire will get another chance to book their knockout place when they host Durham in Grantham on Friday, although look set to be without paceman Paul Coughlin after he suffered a hamstring injury when attempting a quick single.

The race to reach the knockout phase in the South Group also grew tighter as a Sam Robson century guided Middlesex to a 118-run win over Somerset at Radlett Cricket Club in north London.

The Seaxes piled up 354 for six – their highest List A total against Somerset  as former England Test opener Robson cashed in on a rare 50-over opportunity to register his maiden century in the format.

Middlesex had been bowled out in their previous three matches but benefited from Robson’s calm approach with a run-a-ball 106 to anchor the innings while Nick Gubbins crashed 90 from 62 balls.

Leg-spinner Nathan Sowter picked up three for 50 to continue his prolific tournament as Somerset were bowled out for 246 and leave them on four wins alongside Middlesex and Sussex.

Champions Hampshire are two points clear of them at the top of the South Group.

Yorkshire kept alive their hopes of progressing after they emerged from yet another close contest with a rain-affected five-wicket win over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The Vikings have tied two games and lost to Roses rivals Lancashire off the last ball but this time emerged victorious with just two deliveries to spare after they kept their composure in a rain-hit pursuit.

Northamptonshire had posted 351 on the back of Ricardo Vasconcelos’ maiden List A century but after Yorkshire’s target was revised, Gary Ballance hit three successive sixes in the penultimate over before Jonny Tattersall completed victory.