The NatWest T20 Blast began with a bang. There were wins for Durham Jets, Somerset, Leicestershire Foxes, Northants Steelbacks, Notts Outlaws, Glamorgan and Sussex.
By Rob Barnett & Matt Somerford
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10.20pm - A thrilling opening day is complete, highlighted by Sussex's last-ball heroics against Surrey. Here is a recap of the results:
North Group
Northamptonshire Steelbacks began their title defence with a thrillingthree-wicket win over Yorkshire Vikings with a ball to spare at Headingley.
Paul Collingwood proved Twenty20 is not a young man’s game as he hit a half-century and claimed three wickets as Durham Jets beat Worcestershire Rapids by 29 runs at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Marcus North’s 90 was in vain as Derbyshire Falcons fell to a27-run defeat to the Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road.
Samit Patel hit a half-century and claimed two wickets as Nottinghamshire Outlaws beat Lancashire Lightning by 33 runs at Trent Bridge.
South Group
Sussex Sharks pulled off a stunning last-ball win as Yasir Arafat hit successive boundaries, off Jade Dernbach, to edge Surrey by two wickets at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Australian left-arm quick Dirk Nannes took 4-21 as Somerset began with an 18-run win over derby rivals Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Hampshire were tripped up at home against Glamorgan who won by 10 runs thanks to Will Owen’s 3-32.
10.08pm - RESULT! Sussex (172/8) claim an astonishing two-wicket win, Yasir Arafat with successive fours from the final two balls off Dernbach, and Surrey (171/7) lose at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
WICKET..Jordan skies Dernbach to Smith who takes a good catch. Arafat the new man Sussex need 15 from 4 balls #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 16, 2014
10.03pm - That penalty means that Sussex now need 16 from the final over. Jade Dernbach to bowl it.
Six penaltly runs for being behind the clock - Sussex 155-7
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 16, 2014
10.02pm - Nash is bowled by Azhar Mahmood and Surrey close in on victory at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Jordan and Nash picking the fielders here I'm afraid. 30 to win from the final two overs #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 16, 2014
9.54pm - Sussex need 37 from the final three overs in the last game of the night. Chris Nash and Jordan are the unbeaten batsmen, so it is not beyond the Sharks.
9.52pm - RESULT! Glamorgan (161/7) secure an impressive away win over Hampshire (151/6) by 10 runs at the Ageas Bowl.
9.50pm - Nash will bat with a runner to finish the game at Hove. Sussex need 42 from 24 balls.
Chris Nash getting treatment for leg injury after sprinting quick single
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 16, 2014
9.48pm - Hampshire take five from the first three balls of the final over from Wagg.
9.46pm - Hampshire need 18 from the final over against Glamorgan. Matt Coles is 39 from 26 balls. The game rests with him. Graham Wagg to bowl the final over.
Here he is: tonight's #MasterBlaster from #NOTvLAN Samit Patel. You've earned that champers, sir. pic.twitter.com/8IaaS4dhMd
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 16, 2014
9.42pm - Hampshire need 24 from the final two overs. We're in for a thriller at the Ageas Bowl.
Owen returns and bowls Ervine. Hants 130/4.
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 16, 2014
9.35pm - Hamilton-Brown falls to Surrey's Irish combination - stumped Gary Wilson bowled Kevin O'Brien. Ashar Zaidi is then trapped lbw next ball by O'Brien. Sussex need 61 off 37 balls with four wickets left. Chris Jordan sees off the hat-trick ball.
9.34pm - Sean Ervine hits Dean Cosker for a hat-trick of boundaries in an over that costs 17 runs. Hampshire need 36 from 24 balls.
Sussex need 62 from the final seven overs #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 16, 2014
9.27pm - Wright is gone. Tom Curran makes the key breakthrough as he bowls the Sussex all-rounder for 56. The hosts need 65 from 47 balls with former Surrey man Rory Hamilton-Brown unbeaten on 29.
9.25pm - Wright brings up his half-century, from 29 balls, with a six of Robin Peterson. He is the key man for Sussex.
9.20pm - After Notts' impressive win there are two games left running and both are set for tight finishes. Sussex need 100 from 11 overs against Surrey with Luke Wright unbeaten on 40. Hampshire need 80 from 48 balls with seven wickets in hand, although Dawson has had to retire hurt.
9.14pm - RESULT! Nottinghamshire Outlaws (182/5) make an early statement as they are too good for Lancashire Lightning (149) by 33 runs at Trent Bridge.
Sussex 55-3 after 7 overs
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 16, 2014
9.10pm - Liam Dawson has had to retire hurt after suffering a leg injury at the Ageas Bowl. Hampshire are 62 for two at the halfway stage with skipper James Vince unbeaten on 31.
9.09pm - Lancashire need someone to stay with Clark. Kabir Ali chips down the throat of long-off and then Arron Lilley is bowled by an Andy Carter yorker. The Lightning need 39 from 15 balls with two wickets to spare.
9.01pm - Sussex lose the in-form Ed Joyce for seven. They are 27 for two against Surrey after 4.1 overs.
8.59pm - Jordan Clark takes 22 from the final five balls of that Mullaney over to give Lancashire some unlikely hope. They need 49 off 24 balls.
8.56pm - Lancashire need sixes. Wayne White can't get enough on Steve Mullaney slower ball and is caught at long-on by Riki Wessels. The Lightning are 112 for six.
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 knock in a Lightning shirt.
8.27pm - Surrey post 171 for seven batting first against Sussex while Glamorgan finish 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 is 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.
Jason Roy brings up his fifty 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 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 Plunkett 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
