WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids' hopes of making the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals suffered a major blow with a second heavy defeat inside 24 hours.

Riki Wessels' brutal innings helped Notts Outlaws to their second T20 victory in the same period as they claimed a one-sided nine-wicket victory at Trent Bridge.

Having toppled Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday evening, Notts were equally ruthless in dismantling Rapids, who crashed at home to Lancashire Lightning the evening before, live on Sky Sports to move into second place in the North Group table.

Set 125 to win, the hosts reached their target in only 12.2 overs with Wessels blazing an unbeaten 80, scoring his runs from only 35 balls.

The right-handed opener hit six fours and seven sixes in one of the most destructive assaults witnessed on the ground for some time.

Rapids limped their way to a score of 124-8 after morning rain had delayed the start by 15 minutes.

Ben Cox made an unbeaten 37 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 22 from 28 balls but far too many of their team-mates were guilty of gifting their wickets away.

Put in after Dan Christian had won his eighth toss out of 10 for Notts this season, Rapids lost their way as early as the third over when Joe Leach fell for 18.

Leach had shown signs of intent by hoisting Harry Gurney for the only six of the innings but then perished to a catch at long-on from Jake Ball's bowling.

Christian took pace off the ball as soon as the powerplay overs had been completed and was rewarded as Imran Tahir, Steven Mullaney (2-26) and Samit Patel dried up the runs and picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs.

Tahir was the only bowler not to take a wicket but was instrumental in throwing down the stumps to run out Brett D'Oliveira (9) off his own bowling and then gathered a Ball return to dismiss Daryl Mitchell (0) without facing in the same way.

The chase soon became a formality, even though Michael Lumb (14) fell to Matt Henry in the fourth over.

By then Wessels had already hit his straps, hitting Leach for four-six-four-six at the end of the second over.

The 30-year old continued in the same aggressive manner and brought up his fifty with his sixth maximum, from just 17 balls, the quickest in the competition this year.

Greg Smith provided additional firepower from the other end, hitting Matt Henry over the ropes on his way to an unbeaten 32 from 27 balls.

Rapids have now failed to win in the last seven T20 matches with five defeats, a no-result and an abandoned fixture.