In-form Surrey ease to big win over Glamorgan
Surrey posted their highest T20 score at the Kia Oval when they defeated Glamorgan by 81 runs to secure their fifth win in six Vitality Blast South Group games.
After opener Will Jacks had the highest score of 69 points, Curran brothers Sam and Tom took the lead for their side, collectively clinching 80 runs from their last 33 deliveries and taking Surrey to 238 for five points.
The short-handed visitors struggled to 157 points in return but still harbored hopes of reaching the knockout rounds of the competition.
Gloucestershire beat Hampshire by eight wickets Duckworth/Lewis method, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
Ben Wells and Ben Charlesworth had a brilliant 55 in the third wicket to bring their side home after Ross Whiteley’s 41 from 25 balls helped Hampshire to a respectable 158 for seven.
Eleven overs were then lost to rain before Wells and Charlesworth secured victory with five balls remaining on 43 and 29 respectively.
Jordan Cox hit an unbeaten 82 of 44 deliveries as the Kent Spitfires defeated the Sussex Sharks by six wickets to secure their fourth straight Vitality Blast win.
Sussex appeared primed for an impressive aggregate result after Ravi Bopara’s 53 points helped take them to 133 for three, but Michael Hogan’s four for 31 helped Kent take the hosts to 169 for seven.
Cox quickened his reaction by hitting six fours and five sixes while the Spitfires successfully pressured the hosts’ total with eight balls left.
Birmingham Bears maintained their top spot in the North Group after a thrilling two-wicket win over Durham at Seat Unique Riverside.
Hasan Ali grabbed two for 15 from four overs while Durham struggled at the break with an unconvincing 146 for five.
Alex Davies and Rob Yates made an opening 80 in response, but the visitors held out until Jacob Bethell hit a six and a four in the final over, steering Birmingham over the line with three balls to go.
Jos Buttler’s efforts proved in vain as Lancashire Lightning suffered a seven-wicket loss to Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.
Buttler saved his team from 38-4 by hitting 74 balls from 54, but the Lightning were limited to 164-8.
Pat Brown took three wickets and Mitchell Santner followed with 49 balls from 27 while Worcestershire triumphed with 14 balls remaining.
Leicestershire remain bottom of the northern group after suffering a 22-run loss to Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.
Despite limiting the hosts to 165 for eight points, Leicestershire have struggled to react. Wiaan Mulder scored 38 points but Steven Mullaney’s three wickets for 18 carried the Outlaws home.
Former Yorkshire T20 captain David Willey returned to his former club as the Northamptonshire Steelbacks won at Headingley by 78 runs.
Tom Taylor had a career-best record of five for 28 as the visitors beat Yorkshire in 16 overs on just 102 bowling shots after setting a goal of 181.
