WORCESTERSHIRE head bowling coach Alan Richardson hailed a “complete performance” from Rapids who made it four wins out of four in the Vitality Blast with a 41-run home success over Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

Rapids smashed 130-3 in nine overs thanks to Joe Clarke (28), Travis Head (37) and Ross Whiteley (36 not out) before Dillon Pennington's four-wicket blast destroyed any hopes Steelbacks had of reaching their target.

Victory kept Rapids top of the North Group as a Blackfinch New Road crowd were rewarded for their patience after a lengthy rain delay by another impressive display from the hosts.

Richardson said: “As performances go for us this campaign, that was a complete performance.

“We had no idea of what a good score was going to be in nine overs. None of the guys had played that before but the batting unit was sensational.

“There was a real intensity in what they were doing and they probably gave us an over-par score in nine overs, probably better than we could have wished for.

“Then obviously for the bowlers the scoreboard pressure helped but they executed their skills brilliantly.

“Dillon has had quite a start, hasn’t he. He has done brilliantly.

“He bowls a really good length, hits the seam consistently and asks questions and it is very difficult then for batters to be able to line him up and hit him out of the ground."

On Rapids' T20 performances, Richardson said: “I think the confidence has spread through from the 50-over competition and that thankfully has also gone into the T20 campaign.

“It is similar. We are just condensing it down but the guys are having similar roles and are just trying to execute similar skills.

“The guys are just backing themselves. They are practicing hard with really good intent and they back themselves in a game to do that.

“It is obviously helping that it is coming off in games so that they have the confidence to do that but there is no repercussions for the guys if they go out and practice the way they do and it doesn’t quite come off.

“We are happy with that. Obviously if it does come off, we are ecstatic and we are going to win games.”

Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley admitted: “Worcestershire were very good and looked like a team that are full of confidence and we didn’t.

“They have invested in overseas batters and with Joe Clarke they have three big guns firing up-front. They got a foothold in the game and we found it hard to claw that back.”

Rapids host fifth-placed Yorkshire Vikings on Sunday in a televised T20 clash (1pm).