It’s here! NatWest T20 Blast launches today with seven games across the North and South groups. Follow all the action here.
By Rob Barnett & Matt Somerford
Live Scores / Follow NatWest T20 Blast on Twitter
Cooke catches Adams as Owen strikes again. Hants 42/2
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 16, 2014
8.47pm - A good night for Samit Patel gets better. He grabs his second wicket as Lancashire skipper Paul Horton miscues a reverse sweep to Ajmal Shahzad.
8.42pm - Not a good start for Sussex as they chase Surrey's 171 for seven. Matt Machan falls to Jade Dernbach's first ball of the innings.
8.37pm - Buttler goes and Lancashire are in deep trouble. Michael Lumb holds on in the deep. Buttler threatened with 18 off eight balls, but his exit leaves the Lightning on 79 for three in the 11th over.
8.32pm - Lancashire are in need of a kick-start at 49 for two after 8.1 overs. So in comes Jos Buttler for his first Twenty20 in a Lightning shirt.
8.27pm - Surrey have posted 171 for seven batting first against Sussex while Glamorgan have finished up on 161 for seven against Hampshire.
8.26pm - RESULT! Defending champions Northamptonshire Steelbacks (165/7) edge a thriller against Yorkshire (162/7) with a ball to spare at Headingley.
8.23pm - RESULT! Somerset (156/8) secure a first-up success over Gloucestershire (138) by 18 runs at Bristol.
8.22pm - RESULT! Leicestershire Foxes (197/4) beat Derbyshire Falcons (170/7) by 27 runs at Grace Road.
8.15pm - Notts get their first wicket of the night, albeit only after James Taylor drops a dolly. Alex Hales picks up the loose ball though and rifles a throw in to catch Tom Smith out of his ground.
8.12pm - RESULT! Durham Jets (173/4) celebrate after beating Worcestershire Rapids (144) by 29 runs.
8.09pm - North's big hitting ends 10 runs short of a century. Anthony Ireland locates his stumps and Leicestershire are within touching distance of victory.
8.04pm - Kevin O'Brien's return to Surrey not so profitable as he is bowled first ball by Ashar Zaidi.
8.02pm - North has not given up at Grace Road. Two big sixes has moved him to 79 and the Falcons have hope while their newly-arrived overseas remains.
According to WASP, @LancsCCC have a 23% chance of chasing down this target. Here is WASP explained: pic.twitter.com/OtDOXcDBrq
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 16, 2014
7.58pm - Marcus North's second debut at Derbyshire has brought him a half-century, but Gareth Cross falls moments later. The Falcons need 84 from 29 balls at Grace Road with five wickets in hand.
Roy brings up his 50 with a six off Zaidi. Surrey 111/2 #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 16, 2014
7.54pm - A key wicket at Bristol as Hamish Marshall is trapped in front by Max Waller. Gloucestershire are 104 for seven chasing Somerset's 156 for eight.
7.51pm - Worcestershire are in more trouble as Ross Whitely departs to leave them 106 for seven. Durham look good to claim a first-up win now.
7.48pm – Samit Patel brings up a fluent fifty in the penultimate over but is out for 56 to a brilliant long-on catch from Steven Croft as Notts post 182 for five.
Gloucestershire slump to 81 for six when Max Waller strikes for a second time, Yorkshire’s Liam Pulnkett bowls Rob Newton and Glamorgan’s Murray Goodwin goes for 14.
Big wicket for Yorks with Willey caught at long off by Ballance off Pyrah for 43. Northants 81-3 chasing Yorks 162-7 #YORvNOR
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) May 16, 2014
7.38pm – Worcestershire are in trouble at 81 for six as Richard Oliver, for 43, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore go in a Paul Collingwood over and Alexei Kervezee in his next. Max Waller has Benny Howell caught and bowled to leave Gloucestershire 66 for five.
7.30pm – A flurry of wickets to report: Gloucestershire lose Ian Cockbain to slip to 42 for four, Glamorgan Jacques Rudolph to be 65 for two, Worcestershire Colin Munro to sit 64 for three, Surrey Steven Davies to make them 48 for two and Notts Riki Wessels as they move to 139 for four.
A watchful home bench @TrentBridge. 141-4 pic.twitter.com/JV5TM5ViCf
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014
7.22pm – Shivnarine Chanderpaul is bowled for nought by Anthony Ireland, making Derbyshire 37 for three.
Worcestershire move past 50 as Surrey, Glamorgan and Northants each suffer an early setback, Graeme Smith, Jim Allenby and Richard Levi respectively the men to go.
7.15pm – Gloucestershire soon lose three scalps, Chris Dent, Michael Klinger and Alex Gidman departing. Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali is on his way for 21.
7.08pm – Lumb walks past one from Lancashire’s Steven Croft and is bowled for 39. Nathan Buck cleans up Chesney Hughes early in Derbyshire’s chase.
If you're late to the action, these were the half-time scores in our early starts. #T20blastpic.twitter.com/0H0wDW8mnZ
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014
1 over gone - Surrey 6-0 Smith 5*, Roy 1* @BBCLondonSport@NatWestT20Blastpic.twitter.com/HQggBeX7a8
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 16, 2014
7pm –Somerset card 156 for eight thanks to fifties from Alviro Petersen and Craig Kieswetter.
Clark gets reward after an expensive start. He bowls Taylor off his pads, 30. Ends a stand of 54. 65-2 after 6. #NottsvLancs
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 16, 2014
6.53pm – Leicestershire set Derbyshire a daunting 198 to win. The Foxes’ 197 for four was boosted by 63 not out from Styris.
Yorkshire make 162 for seven, Liam Plunkett having been Butler’s fourth victim, for 36. Butler returns 4-25 and Tim Bresnan is unbeaten on 34.
6.44pm – Durham post 173 for four with MacLeod unbeaten on 80 from 56.
Scott Styris goes to a half-century for Leicestershire, who already have more than Durham.
50 run partnership up for Bresnan and Plunkett. @Yorkshireccc are 138/6 after 18 #GoSteelbacks#reigndefendconquer
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) May 16, 2014
50 for Kieswetter from 43 balls, 129 for 5 with 3 overs to go. pic.twitter.com/iuY9LPLx9I
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 16, 2014
6.36pm – The action begins at Trent Bridge. James Anderson dismisses fellow England international Alex Hales, opening alongside Michael Lumb, via a top edge in front of a healthy Trent Bridge crowd.
Worcestershire’s Saeed Ajmal removes Collingwood for 62, ending a stand of 113 with MacLeod.
Hants win toss and invite Glamorgan to bat
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 16, 2014
Toss - Surrey have won it and will bat pic.twitter.com/Iu2E33HKsP
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 16, 2014
6.29pm – MacLeod Collingwood raise fifties for Durham. Northants’ Ian Butler ousts Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow, the latter for 24, in consecutive balls, reducing Yorkshire to 87 for six. Derbyshire’s Jonathan Clare accounts for Ned Eckersely on 33, making Leicestershire 138 for four.
100 partnership is up between @calummacleod640 and @Colly622 - a great recovery after we were 33-3. Now 133-3 after 16 overs.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 16, 2014
Wicket - Petersen is caught on the boundary for 51. Hildy the next man in, 103 for 3.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 16, 2014
6.19pm – Leicestershire and Durham, for whom Paul Collingwood and Calum MacLeod are into the fourties, pass 100.
6.10pm – Yorkshire lose another big name, Gary Ballance, while Greg Smith, of Leicestershire who are nearly into three figures, departs to Chesney Hughes for 35.
6.03pm –Lancashire captain Paul Horton opts to bowl versus Notts. No Andrew Flintoff, who is in talks about a shock return to cricket, in the Lightning team.
The teams are in for #NottsvLancs#t20pic.twitter.com/tvkCgHCBhS
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 16, 2014
5.56pm – Joe Root attempts to scoop Muhammad Azhar Ullah but is trapped in front, leaving Yorkshire 37 for three. The Foxes’ Josh Cobb, whose 28-ball 38 is the highest score so far, is soon caught behind off Wes Durston.
David Willey loves a bit of T20, doesn't he? Star of last year's final, and now a direct hit run out here.
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014
5.50pm – Leicestershire make a flying start, already beyond 50, but Durham are 33 for three when Scott Borthwick is dismissed. Yorkshire stumble as Kane Williamson is run out for 17.
5.41pm – Durham and Somerset ship second wickets, Mark Stoneman and Peter Trego the men to fall. Yorkshire’s Andrew Gale also departs.
Not a bad view from the press box! pic.twitter.com/chXPn2gp8Y
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) May 16, 2014
5.33pm – Wow! A flurry of early wickets, including Somerset master-blaster Marcus Trescothick for a first-baller, caught at third man off James Fuller. Leicestershire’s Niall O’Brien and Durham’s Phil Mustard also go in the first over, the latter lbw to Moeen Ali.
5.30pm – It’s official, NatWest T20 Blast is under way!
Fireworks as the players enter the fray NatWest T20 Blast https://t.co/o4hxa2k4Hs
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 16, 2014
5.18pm – This is how it was made…
5.15pm – Ever seen a cricket ball in space? If not, click here.
Zorb run at the Bristol County Ground!! pic.twitter.com/FmB2BnajQd
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) May 16, 2014
Congratulations to Durham supporter Andrew for winning two tickets! Victory over Chester the Lion! https://t.co/NGmGt7JYGB
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 16, 2014
5.05pm – Here is the news of the four games beginning at 5.30pm:
Yorkshire Vikings opt to bat first versus Northants Steelbacks.
Derbyshire Falcons ask Leicestershire Foxes to bat first.
Worcestershire Rapids choose to chase against Durham Jets.
Gloucestershire decide to bowl first facing Somerset.
The sun is shining. Teams are being named. Pour yourself a glass of something nice and buckle up. We are officially ready for #BlastOff
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014
9 - @hantscricket's @carbs646 reached 25 in nine of his 11 T20 innings in 2013, hitting four 50s and one ton. Reliable. @NatWestT20Blast
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) May 16, 2014
5pm – There are also three Blast fixtures tomorrow, including Middlesex Panthers’ innovative double-header at Lord’s. We spoke to Dawid Malan, the Panthers’ leading scorer last year, who said: “A packed house at Lord’s is an unbelievable experience.”
Derbyshire squad out warming up ahead of @NatWestT20Blast opener with @leicsccc . Play starts at 5.30pm #LEIvDERhttps://t.co/bZdpS0QgEA
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 16, 2014
4.50pm – Phew! Just made a change to my fantasy team shortly before the 5pm deadline. With Lancashire Lightning’s Junaid Khan unavailable today due to visa issues, James Anderson comes in.
Check out our interview with @Eoin16 who spoke about @Middlesex_CCC, England, @NatWestT20Blast and being captain http://t.co/bZ3eOHCiAc
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 16, 2014
4.45pm – The tosses in the four 5.30pm games are due to be at 5pm. While waiting for those, why not read our team news preview for the North and South groups?
4.35pm – Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to our first NatWest T20 Blast blog. ‘Warm’ is particularly apt given the glorious weather greeting the first matches, which are as follows:
North Group
Durham Jets v Worcestershire Rapids, 5.30pm start
Leicestershire Foxes v Derbyshire Falcons, 5.30pm
Yorkshire Vikings v Northants Steelbacks, 5.30pm
Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Lancashire Lightning, 6.30pm
South Group
Gloucestershire v Somerset, 5.30pm
Hampshire v Glamorgan, 7pm
Sussex Sharks v Surrey, 7pm
Sunshine and sixes forecast tonight @TrentBridge. We are on air for Notts v @LancsCCC from 6pm on SS2 #t20pic.twitter.com/QyuSiwKjv5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 16, 2014
We're 40 mins away from the #FBL Fantasy Cricket deadline. It's Friday afternoon. What else is there to do? [JOIN] http://t.co/GQiMIvbbsj
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014