JOE CLARKE, Travis Head, Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox hit half-centuries in Worcestershire’s imposing 350 for six before the Rapids held their nerve with the ball to beat Yorkshire in a thriller by four runs at Emerald Headingley and continue their winning start in the Royal London one-day Cup.

Clarke and Head, the latter who was Yorkshire’s overseas in 2016, laid the platform with 61 off 64 balls and 77 off 94.

Whiteley, who hit six sixes in an over during last year’s T20 Blast fixture here, and wicketkeeper Cox then put the Vikings under late pressure with 66 not out off 41 balls and 50 off 33.

They brilliantly scored the lion’s share of 122 off the last 10 overs before Yorkshire started their chase strongly through ex-Pear Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Indian centurion Che Pujara, who made 101 off 94 balls.

They took the score to 173 for one in the 30th over before sliding following the departure of opener Kohler-Cadmore for 89.

From there, Yorkshire battled hard and even took the target to six off the last ball with one wicket in hand (Andrew Hodd on strike) having been 253 for five after 42 overs. But they finished on 346 for nine.

Yorkshire conceded their second highest total in List A cricket, while Adil Rashid’s one for one from 10 overs was his most expensive career return.

The Rapids, last season’s semi-finalists, backed up Saturday’s home win over Derbyshire. Yorkshire, meanwhile, have now won one and lost two.

After being inserted under overcast skies, the visitors had to navigate some early assistance for the seamers, with Daryl Mitchell trapped lbw by Ben Coad - 14 for one.

Clarke and Australian Head then shared 108 in 17 overs for the second wicket before the innings slowed up somewhat as they fell to 220 for five in the 39th, losing Clarke run out backing up and Head superbly caught and bowled by Rashid.

But Whiteley strengthened an excellent recent limited overs record against Yorkshire with some blistering hitting, while Cox was equally dynamic.

The runs then continued to flow at the start of the Yorkshire reply.

Openers Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth shared 72 inside 12 overs before Pujara joined the former to share 101 in 18 overs for the second wicket.

While Kohler-Cadmore added to last Friday’s 164 in beating Durham, Pujara passed 50 for the third successive innings.

But the chase faltered in the 30th over when leg-spinning all-rounder Brett D’Oliveira returned and had Kohler-Cadmore caught at long-on and pinch-hitter James Wainman caught behind in three balls.

Yorkshire quickly slipped from 173 for one and reached 40 overs at 240 for four.

Pujara reached his hundred shortly afterwards, but it was all but game up when he found deep mid-wicket off Ed Barnard’s seamers (three for 75).

Some exhilarating lower order hitting raised home hopes again, but it was to no avail as 16 off the last, and then six off the last ball, with one wicket left was a step too far.

Yorkshire captain Steve Patterson said: "It was an interesting game with a lot of runs scored in the end, and we're very disappointed.

"I thought it was a tremendous effort from the batting unit to get us as close as we did. It probably flattered us a little bit in terms of the way we played today. The first half was quite below par for what we're capable of, both in the execution of our bowling and our fielding in general.

"To go for 122 off the last 10 overs is not good enough. I think we also let 27 extras go as well. All these little things you look at afterwards and think 'When you lose by four runs'.

"But we were way below par and didn't deserve to win after that first half.

"There were a few basics we didn't do well enough in the field, and it's cost us."

Worcestershire captain Joe Leach said: "I didn't expect it to be that close after we'd bowled 40 overs to be honest.

"It was a pretty good game of cricket, and my heart-rate has just started to settle down now after what was a bit of a panic for a little while.

"But we've closed the game out. There are a lot of things we need to improve on and a lot of things we did very well. Ultimately, to come away with two points is very pleasing.

"I've said it a few times, our batting line-up is a scary proposition. Watching Cox and Whiteley go about their work in the last 10 overs, it's scary.

"I thought the way Travis played and Joe, they set it up nicely. Ross and Ben ran with it in the last 10 overs and got us a very good score.

"The scary thing is, I think we're capable of even more. That's not to say we could have got it today, but I see Notts got 400 today. I certainly think we're a team who can do that.

"It's nice to be able to stand here with a win. It was a good experience for our young seamers. They've not played a lot of List A cricket. We've seen a little bit of naivety at times and miss-execution, but it's nice to say that on the back of a win."