After stepping through the gears and adding a quickfire 30, de Caires’ superb knock was eventually curtailed for 130 when Ben Allison took a smart catch from a mishit in the deep, providing Tom Taylor with a second wicket of the day.
Singh (2-59) helped his side wrestle back some control six balls later when he beat the defences of Joe Cracknell (3), before Allison abruptly ended Zafar Gohar’s 12-ball-cameo for 20 as the Rapids chipped away.
The momentum continued to swing in the final forays as Swanepoel claimed a second wicket, after Sawant’s run-a-ball 44 propelled the visitors to 293-7.
Worcestershire’s reply was under the cosh from the get-go, slipping to 12-1 after just 13 deliveries.
Lategan was given a life early on when he was put down at slip in the very first over of the chase but only lasted ten deliveries before seeing his afternoon cut short after suffering a lower leg injury when attempting to run a single and was forced to retire not-out.
The tough start was compounded for the reigning champions when Gareth Roderick was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances, strangling his first ball down the leg side to send the table toppers cock-a-hoop.
The rebuild was left in the experienced hands of Brett D’Oliveira and competition captain Jake Libby, who dug in to bring the home side back into the game with an assured fifty-run stand.
The hosts grafted and stuck to their task with gritty determination to keep Middlesex’s seamers at bay, before starting to signal their intent with some dismissive counter punches through the onside.
That fluent progress guided the Rapids towards three-figures. Still, moments after reaching a first half-century of the tournament, D’Oliveira’s superb riposte was cut short when he feathered an edge behind to Cracknell.
The second-wicket stand of 87 stabilised the home side, but Kashif Ali’s dismissal for three saw the Rapids stumble at 107-3.
Libby marched on unfazed, registering a composed and controlled fifty for the first time in this year’s competition, playing a crucial hand for his side, now with youngster Henry Cullen for company.