MOEEN Ali's scintillating century against Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston lifted Worcestershire Rapids to a 15-run Vitality Blast victory which booked them a home tie in the quarter-finals.

Former Bears batsman Moeen smashed his maiden T20 ton - 115 from 56 balls with 12 fours and seven sixes - to lift Rapids to 209-5.

It was the England player's second white-ball century on his old home ground this season following his 114 in the Royal London Cup in June.

Birmingham's reply lacked the major contribution it needed, no one reaching 50, as Bears fell short on 194-7 and exited the tournament at the group stage while Rapids topped the North Group.

Put in in front of a 14,895 crowd, Rapids charged to 64-0 in six overs as Moeen set about unfurling a batting masterclass.

He added 80 in 49 balls with Joe Clarke (32, 25 balls) then hit overdrive in a stand of 74 in 38 balls with Callum Ferguson whose contribution was just 13.

Moeen finally fell in the 17th over, stumped off leg-spinner Josh Poysden who was the only Birmingham bowler to enjoy any success.

Poysden ended with 3-41 after also dismissing Clarke and Ferguson, both bowled by turning deliveries.

Ben Cox's perky 16-ball 27 saw Rapids past 200 and ensured a tall target for Birmingham but Bears' reply was briskly launched by a stand of 55 in 29 balls between Ed Pollock (36, 18 balls) and Ian Bell (19).

But both then fell within six balls as Wayne Parnell uprooted Bell's middle-stump and Pollock edged Pat Brown behind, supplying the 19-year-old with his 26th wicket of the Blast campaign.

Number 27 followed when Adam Hose, having moved dangerously to 45 from 29 balls, was bowled by a slower ball.

With the pressure rising and 55 needed from four overs, Bears' main hope was a salvo from Colin de Grandhomme but on 31 from 20 balls the Black Caps star lifted Parnell to long-off.

When Parnell trapped Grant Elliott (29, 16 balls) with the last ball of the penultimate over, 20 were needed from the last.

Brown delivered the final over with superb composure to finish with an impressive 4-0-23-2.

Watching Rapids club captain Joe Leach, who is out injured, said: "It was a great effort from the lads in a real big-game atmosphere which was really valuable experience for the knockout stage.

"Playing in the derby in front of a big crowd at Edgbaston is as close to knockout cricket as you can get.

"The batsmrn came off, which is what you like to see, and all the bowlers were put under pressure.

"At times with the ball and in the field I don't think the guys were at their best but to come through and win a game like that will stand them in really good stead going into hopefully the last three games of the competition."