A WHIRLWIND innings from England’s Jos Buttler sentenced Worcestershire Rapids to a crushing seven-wicket defeat against NatWest T20 Blast holders Lancashire Lightning at New Road.

Replying to 198 all out, Buttler laid siege to the Rapids attack, cracking four sixes and seven fours as he reached his half-century in just 20 balls.

Buttler needed treatment when Lancashire fielded after he was struck on the left hand while keeping wicket.

But the England one-day star showed no signs of the injury as he took the North Group game away from the hosts, who are now facing a struggle to reach the quarter-finals.

One of Buttler’s sixes was a remarkable ramp shot that sailed over the head of County wicketkeeper Ben Cox off the bowling of Matt Henry.

His match-winning 57 eventually ended when he was bowled by Kyle Abbott, who claimed his first wicket for the County.

Earlier, Rapids lost early wickets before a 77-run stand in five overs between Cox (44) and Ross Whiteley (38) lifted their hopes.

With a short boundary to the Cathedral side, Joe Leach opened, making 14 before he was caught by Buttler off Nathan Buck.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18) was bowled by Jordan Clark, just one ball after dispatching him over long-on for six.

Joe Clarke raced to 25 with five boundaries before he was caught by Buttler trying to reverse sweep Stephen Parry.

The County suffered another blow when Brett D’Oliveira (30) was caught, just a delivery after clearing the mid-wicket ropes.

When skipper Daryl Mitchell (9) was bowled by Steven Croft, Rapids slid to 99-5.

Cox joined Whiteley and the wicketkeeper blazed five fours and a six in an over from Parry before the pair then took 20 off the next six balls from George Edwards.

Cox perished for 44 from 21 balls and Whiteley was run out for 38.

Rapids’ last five wickets fell for 22 runs.

In reply, Buttler survived an early run-out chance and Mitchell could not hold on to a stinging catch as Lancashire powered to 50-0 after just four overs.

The New Road crowd watched spellbound as Buttler scooped a full toss from Henry for six before dispatching the next two deliveries over the ropes.

The holders romped to 76-0 from five overs and, after Buttler fell for 57, they had amassed an astonishing 98-1 at the end of the six-over powerplay.

Alviro Petersen fell for 34, caught by Jack Shantry off Leach with 115 on the board in the ninth over, and Mitchell struck the next blow, bowling Liam Livingston (7).

But there was no stopping Lancashire as they brought up victory with 11 balls to spare with Karl Brown finishing on 62 not out and Steven Croft 23no.

Rapids visit Notts Outlaws tomorrow in a T20 match televised live on Sky Sports (2.30pm).