TOM Fell's first century since his recovery from cancer kept alive Worcestershire Rapids' chances of a quarter-final place in the Royal London One-Day Cup with a four-wicket victory over Lancashire Lightning at New Road.

Fell made 116 not out, his highest List A score, as Rapids successfully chased 268 with 14 balls to spare and ended their opponents' hopes of going through to the knockouts.

The County now have to win their final group game against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge tomorrow (2pm) and look for favourable results elsewhere.

For Fell, it was an emotional milestone in his eighth innings since returning to the side a month ago.

Having completed two 50s in that time, he moved up a gear in an innings of high quality on a pitch where Lancashire found it difficult to dictate to spinners or the slower-paced seam bowlers.

Going in as early as the fourth over, when Daryl Mitchell was caught behind off Saqib Mahmood, Fell was into his stride in a partnership of 58 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who got to 30 before he was caught at cover off Tom Smith.

Rapids had a wobble in six balls from Stephen Parry.

Joe Clarke (25) was caught low down at short extra cover and Brett D'Oliveira (4) was stumped after charging the left-arm spinner.

Ross Whiteley then restored stability with 38 out of 83 and although he was bowled by a quicker ball by Steven Croft, the crowd was ready and waiting for a standing ovation when Fell reached three figures in 104 balls by cutting Parry for his 14th four.

The 22-year-old collected one more boundary and took a back seat as Ben Cox powered Rapids towards their target with 31 from 25 balls.

In making 267-7, Lightning owed much to their captain as Croft featured in two significant partnerships.

Leg-spinner D'Oliveira bowled 10 overs for 27 runs and medium-pacer Mitchell delivered his first full ration in white-ball competitions this season.

The home skipper finished with 1-41 with his wicket an important one when the dangerous Karl Brown was out for 43, giving wicketkeeper Cox his third catch of the innings.

At that stage Lightning were beginning to repair early damage caused by Kyle Abbott's most effective contribution in Worcestershire's overseas position.

The powerful South African emerged from a sharp opening spell with 2-24 from six overs.

Smith was first to go, mishitting to mid-off, and Alviro Petersen went for 32, a first victim for Cox.

Off-spinner George Rhodes accounted for Liam Livingstone (18) with assistance from Cox.

This brought in Croft to make 33 out of 64 with Brown before adding 99 in 14 overs with Luke Procter.

Croft scored 78 from 105 balls, hitting a six and six fours before falling to Ed Barnard when he was brilliantly caught by Whiteley running in from deep mid-wicket.

Joe Leach, at short fine leg, hardly had to move to hold Procter's mistimed ramp shot on the return of Abbott (3-56).

The left-hander made 47 at almost a run-a-ball.