Birmingham seal home Blast quarter-final despite stunning Shaheen Afridi over
The Birmingham Bears secured a home quarterfinal from Vitality Blast with a two-wicket win over North Group rivals Notts Outlaws at damp Trent Bridge.
The Bears had already secured a place in the knockout rounds after five straight wins but ran into serious trouble seven-four in the pursuit of 169 when Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi took four wickets in the first half .
But opener Rob Yates managed a quiet 65, with Jacob Bethell and Jake Lintott each scoring 27 to finish with five balls to go.
Although Tom Moores had previously hit a quick 73, the Outlaws always seemed to underperform after being knocked out for 168 in their 20 overs.
The Outlaws must now beat the Leicestershire Foxes at Trent Bridge in their final game to join the Bears in the last eight.
The Lancashire Lightning v Yorkshire Vikings derby showdown at Emirates Old Trafford was abandoned without a ball being thrown due to heavy rain.
With the points tied, second-placed Lancashire are still unsure of progressing but Yorkshire are missing out as they needed a win to keep their qualifying hopes alive.
Worcestershire’s game against Durham ended in a draw on Duckworth-Lewis Stern after poor light saw an early end at New Road.
Durham opener Graham Clark hit 78 from 47 balls, with Michael Jones (39), Brydon Carse (39) and Ashton Turner (33 CA) also making useful contributions to their side’s 216 for four.
The Rapids were 112 for three after 11 overs, with New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner hitting a quick 42 and Adam Hose going unbeaten with 16.
By a point each, Durham’s quarter-final hopes are gone, while the Rapids need to win in Derbyshire on Sunday to progress.
Tom Wood scored his first T20 century and led the Derbyshire Falcons to a 71-run win over the Leicestershire Foxes that keeps their hopes of qualifying alive.
Wood hit an unbeaten 110 — with 12 fours and four sixes from 57 balls — while opening mate Harry Came made 56, while the Falcons hit 231 for four, their highest T20 total.
Peter Handscomb led the Foxes’ response with 61, but Zaman Khan picked up three for 27 as Leicestershire finished with 160 all-outs.
Derbyshire must now beat Worcestershire to have a chance of reaching the Quarters.
Tom Banton’s fine 84 helped South Group leaders Somerset to an 18-run win over Surrey at the Oval.
Somerset, who had already secured the quarter-finals at home, scored 208 for five after being used to bat.
New Zealand duo Matt Henry (four-30) and Ish Sodhi (three-33) then helped limit Surrey to 190-nine, requiring them to beat Essex to stay in contention for second place.
At the Ageas Bowl, Australia’s Ben McDermott scored 54 points and put defending champions Hampshire Hawks in the best position to reach the Quarters with a 21-run DLS win over Glamorgan.
Hampshire reached 97 for two in 9.2 overs before a rain delay and Glamorgan had 83 in six overs.
Despite Colin Ingram’s quick 34-point result, Glamorgan limited himself to 54 for one thanks to good defensive bowling, while Hampshire tied with Surrey in second place on 16 points.
Ravi Bopara’s fine Century helped the Sussex Sharks beat the Kent Spitfires by 11 runs in another rainy game in Canterbury.
Bopara posted his highest T20 score of 108 while Sussex hit an impressive 228 for seven.
By the time the heavy rains set in, however, Kent were 31-1 and a revised DLS target was set at 129 from 10 overs.
Despite Alex Blake scoring 30 points and Jordan Cox scoring an unbeaten 37 points, it always looked like a tough chase and the hosts finished 117 points to four.
Middlesex defeated Essex by two wickets in a high-scoring duel at Chelmsford, ending the Eagles’ hopes of progressing to the Quarters.
All-rounder Ryan Higgins hit a quick 61 and Martin Andersson’s unbeaten 24 saw Middlesex thrive in the final over, though Matt Critchley hit a career-best five at 28.
Essex had scored 225 for six points, with Daniel Sams not absent with 69 points, but now they head to the Oval on Sunday and need a win over Surrey to have any chance of progressing.
