Recap Friday’s NatWest T20 Blast action, which saw wins for Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham and Notts in the North Group while Glamorgan, Essex, Gloucestershire and Kent prevailed in the South Group.
By Matt Somerford & Rob Barnett
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22.24pm – Here’s how an epic evening of Blast ended:
North Group
Leaders Lancashire Lightning lost a Roses ripper to Yorkshire Vikingsby five wickets as Aaron Finch’s 88 and six penalty runs aided a chase of 180 in the last over.
Worcestershire Rapids went second thanks to a five-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes as captain Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 67 helped them home.
Birmingham Bears earned victory by six wickets thanks in part to Varun Chopra’s 51 versus Durham Jets.
Alex Hales’ 63 saw Notts Outlaws comfortably claim bragging rights over local rivals Derbyshire Falconsby a margin of five wickets.
South Group
Kent Spitfires’ stunning 208 for four proved 16 too many for Middlesex Panthers, despite an electric 129 from just 57 balls by Dan Christian.
Glamorgan won a T20 at Taunton for the first time in 10 years, seeing off Somersetby seven runs as Jim Allenby’s 96 not out trumped Peter Trego’s unbeaten 94.
Essex Eagles eased past Surreyby five wickets with Jason Roy’s 57 going to waste.
Gloucestershire defended 189 for six, inspired by Ian Cockbain’s 84, by four runs against Sussex Sharks as Graeme McCarter struck thrice in the last over for figures of 5-35.
9.46pm – RESULT! Kent Spitfires (208/4) beat Middlesex Panthers (192ao) by 16 runs at the Spitfire Ground. Christian’s blistering 129 is in vain as David Griffiths takes four wickets, a trio in the last over, and Bollinger three.
9.45pm – RESULT! Gloucestershire (189/6) see off Sussex Sharks (185ao) by four runs at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Beer and Piolet’s heroics leave 10 wanted from the last over, but McCarter claims three more wickets for limited-overs-best figures of 5-35.
WICKET - Middx 191-8. Christian b Griffiths 129. Amazing knock. #unluckydan
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) June 6, 2014
9.42pm – RESULT! Notts Outlaws (165/6) defeat Derbyshire Falcons (164/7) by six wickets at the 3aaa County Ground. Hales’ 63 helps the Outlaws claim local bragging rights with a whopping 3.1 overs to spare.
9.35pm –Christian speeds to three figures with the first of back-to-back sixes off Bollinger. Soon after, Middlesex need 49 from the last three overs.
Will Beer and Steffan Piolet have dragged Sussex back into it. They require 22 from 12 balls with three wickets left.
Riki Wessels falls but Notts are closing on victory over local rivals Derbyshire.
Get in there lads!!!!!!! #tykes#Vikings
— Joe Root (@joeroot05) June 6, 2014
9.27pm – RESULT! Yorkshire Vikings (180/5) are victorious versus Lancashire Lightning (179/6) at Emirates Old Trafford. Richard Pyrah flays the third ball of Kabir’s over for six to extra-cover, silencing the home fans. The Red Rose are not happy about the penalty runs, but there’s nothing they can do now.
9.24pm – It’s all happening at Emirates Old Trafford! Tim Bresnan is cheaply run out but Lancashire have bowled their overs too slowly so Yorkshire get six penalty runs and need nine from the last over, bowled by Kabir.
Chris Nash and John Simpson fall, respectively making the game all but up for Middlesex and Sussex.
9.20pm – RESULT! Essex Eagles (155/5) see off Surrey (151/6) by five wickets at the Kia Oval. Ryan ten Doeschate’s unbeaten 43 aids victory with seven balls left.
9.18pm – RESULT! Birmingham Bears (147/4) beat Durham Jets (146/6) by six wickets at Edgbaston. Despite Shoaib Malik falling late in the chase, Laurie Evans fires the hosts over the line with five deliveries unused.
WICKET! @yozza18 bowls Hales for 63! Nottinghamshire 112-4 (11). Target 165 #DERvNOT
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 6, 2014
9.15pm – Big breakthrough for Lancs as Finch slices Tom Smith’s slower ball to backward point to depart for 88. Yorkshire need 36 from 17 balls.
Sussex lose Hamilton-Brown for 49 and Ben Brown plus Yasir Arafat soon after. They are 111 for six.
Essex and Warwickshire are on the verge of victory.
FIFTY: Alex Hales is having a good week. 95/3 #bazisback#CricketHasLanded
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 6, 2014
9.09pm – Birmingham’s Varun Chopra goes to a fifty but next ball is bowled by Usman Arshad while Essex’s Tom Westley likewise falls to Azhar Mahmood for 44.
Dan Christian’s half-century gives Middlesex faint hope as Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth and Notts’ Samit Patel go cheaply on their way.
9.01pm – Finch launches Jordan Clarke, who has dyed his beard and moustache red to mark D-Day, for an almost-identical six from another full-toss. At the end of the over Yorkshire need 52 from 30 balls with eight wickets left.
Bollinger bags a second breakthrough and fourth for Kent, bowling Joe Denly, Derbyshire’s Tim Groenewald has James Taylor caught and bowled, and Sussex’s Matt Machan falls to Jack Taylor, ending a half-century alliance with Rory Hamilton-Brown.
6! Aaron Finch has just bounced one off The Point balcony! 62 off 34 required
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 6, 2014
8.52pm – A stand of 99 between Finch and Alex Lees ends as the latter, moving to off attempting a cute deflection, is bowled leg stump by Junaid Khan.
Notts openers Michael Lumb and Alex Hales quickly share a fifty partnership, but Mark Footitt then removes the former.
PACK OF CARDS! Middlesex fans - look the other way. @kentcricket are bossing this. Bollinger, Stevens and Griffiths on song. MID 28-3
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 6, 2014
8.45pm – Gloucestershire’s Graeme McCarter bags two in two. Luke Wright and Ed Joyce go before Rory Hamilton-Brown averts a hat-trick.
Paul Collingwood checks Birmingham’s decent progress with the wicket of Jonathon Webb for 28, making them 80 for two in the 11th over chasing 147.
Three key batsmen, Essex’s Ravi Bopara and Middlesex’s Dawid Malan plus Eoin Morgan, depart without much impact.
Not a bad view @DerbyshireCCC#The3aaaCountyGround#tweetfromyourseatpic.twitter.com/P3IjZHGLJD
— Gemma (@GemmaVBradley) June 6, 2014
8.34pm – Aaron Finch is leading Yorkshire’s pursuit of 180. So far he’s on the bullseye thanks to a fifty.
Doug Bollinger strikes early in Middlesex’s innings, ousting Paul Stirling, while Essex’s Mark Pettini is run out.
END OF INNINGS: Good fightback for the Falcons who end their 20 overs on 164-7. North top scored with 57. Over to the bowlers... #DERvNOT
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 6, 2014
8.20pm – RESULT! Glamorgan (176/3) defeat Somerset (169/4) by seven runs at Taunton. The Welsh County take their first T20 triumph at Taunton in 10 years. Trego was unbeaten on 94, but Jim Allenby’s 96 not out won the day.
Gloucestershire post a creditable 189 for six at Sussex, built on 84 from Cockbain.
First wicket down for Surrey as Kevin O’Brien bowls Ryder for 31 and the new batsman is Tom Westley #SurvEss
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 6, 2014
8.12pm – RESULT! Worcestershire Rapids (167/5) beat Leicestershire Foxes (164/6) by five wickets at Grace Road. Captain Mitchell’s unbeaten 67 carries his side to victory with four balls left.
Kent Spitfires finish on 208/4 Blake 58* Billings 31* #KENvMID
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) June 6, 2014
8.07pm – Alex Blake races to a half-century for Kent, who are posting a strong score, and Kabir Ali bowls Andrew Gale in the first over of Yorkshire’s reply.
EASY RYDER! Jesse hits the first two balls of the @EssexCricket reply for a four and a six. Intentions clear, ESS 11-0 (1)
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 6, 2014
8pm – Somerset’s Peter Trego and Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell raise fifties. Gloucestershire’s Ian Cockbain falls for 84 to Steffan Piolet.
24 needed from the last three overs for the Rapids to win. Whiteley now hits a four... 20 needed. #COYRapids
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) June 6, 2014
7.51pm - Surrey have finished up on 151for six after being sent in by Essex at the Kia Oval.
WICKET..Klinger skies one to long-off as Will Beer takes a fantastic catch off the bowling of Piolet. Gloucs 115/1 in the 14th over
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 6, 2014
7.48pm - Durham have managed 146 for seven against Birmingham. They've fashioned a defendable total in the end after a mid-innings collapse.
Sam Northeast has reached his half-century from 30 balls and Kent are 135 for three in the 15th over against winless Middlesex.
BLUSHES SPARED! Moments after dropping a dolly in the deep, Reece Topley takes a nicely-judged catch to dismiss Wilson. SUR 143-5 (19)
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 6, 2014
7.45pm - Oliver Robinson is trusted with the last over and the 20-year-old grabs two wickets in it as Lancashire finish on 179 for six.
7.42pm - Ian Cockbain brings up his fifty from 34 balls and Gloucestershire are 91 for one against Sussex Sharks in the 12th over.
Fast. Full. Straight. Mills finishes the over with a well bowled ball as Surrey scamper the single. 135-4 and 12 legal deliveries to come.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 6, 2014
Somerset closing in on Glamorgan's first innings run rate 71/2 in the 9th
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 6, 2014
7.33pm - It has been tough going for Derbyshire, who are in desperate need of a win. They are 42 for three after eight overs against the Outlaws.
7.32pm - Worcestershire are on target in their chase against Leicestershire - who made 164 for six. The Rapids are 101 for two after 11 overs with Colin Munro and Daryl Mitchell at the crease.
7.29pm - Buttler is out now. He mis-times Tim Bresnan down the throat of Lyth at long-on. It is a far easier catch than his memorable juggle act with Finch before, although he wasn't aided by the Sky microphone he has on his body coming unstuck as he raced in.
KEY MAN: Rob Key departs for 36. Fine effort from the skipper, considering his stint at the crease last night. KEN 60-2
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 6, 2014
7.26pm - Buttler skies a high ball over midwicket, but somehow no Vikings fielder can get under it. Buttler is 19 off 14 balls - he hasn't got going yet - and Lancs are 132 for three after 16 overs.
7.25pm - Bopara strikes another important wicket as this time he gets rid of Roy, caught in the deep by ten Doeschate again, for 57. Surrey are 106 for three after 14 overs.
After 6 overs Kent Spitfires 57/1. Key 35* Northeast 6* #KENvMID
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) June 6, 2014
7.22pm - Stokes makes a duck! Durham are struggling at 85 for six.
WICKET | Naik gets Kohler-Cadmore, Rapids 62-2 after 7
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) June 6, 2014
7.19pm - Jason Roy is in good form for Surrey and he has a half-century from 38 balls. Surrey are 95 for two in the 13th over against Essex.
7.16pm - Paul Collingwood hits Rankin for six, but the tall Birmingham quick has the last laugh as he takes his wicket later in the over before Scott Borthwick is run out next ball. Durham are 80 for five with Ben Stokes now at the crease.
Klinger cuts Hatchett for four to end the fourth over. Gloucs 31/1 #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 6, 2014
7.06pm - Jos Buttler has stepped out to the crease in the Roses match after Adil Rashid takes a smart return catch off the dangerous Karl Brown. I wonder if any Viking player will be game enough to try and 'mankad' Buttler? Lancs are 86 for three after 11 overs.
7.04pm - The in-form Calum MacLeod is out for the Jets, stumped off Jeetan Patel, as they are now 57 for three.
Somerset have lost an early wicket in their pursuit of Glamorgan's 176 for three - Marcus Trescothick managing just four.
7.03pm - Worcestershire have made a, erm, rapid start to their chase. They are 20 for none after two overs.
Don't let me get u out today @KP24 . U won't hear the end of it. #surreyVessex#T20Blast
— Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara) June 6, 2014
7pm - KP is gone. He manages just five before falling victim to Bopara. A big wicket for the Eagles.
Wicket. @stephen_moore6 is caught and bowled by Gurney off the first ball. Derbyshire 0-1 (0.1). Knight new man #DERvNOT
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 6, 2014
6.55pm - I think we have catch of the season sewn up at Emirates Old Trafford. Aaron Finch completes the catch but Adam Lyth gets all the credit. He dives back over the rope at long-on - at full stretch - and throws the ball back to Finch inside the playing area. Lyth is speaking to Sky now: "Finchy said I am here. It was pretty special". Smith is the unlucky batsman after hitting 55 from 28.
6.53pm - Glamorgan will have to defend a healthy 176 for three if they are to win at Taunton for the first time in 10 years. Allenby narrowly missed out on a century, batting through to be unbeaten on 96 from 59 balls.
6.51pm - While Smith has let rip on the Vikings attack his opening partner Alex Davies only managed five off seven balls before popping up a catch to mid off. Lancashire are 65 for one after the powerplay - the best of the summer - although perhaps not everyone is impressed.
WICKET! Amla pops one up to Salisbury in the covers off the bowling of Mills. In comes K.Pietersen #SurvEss
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 6, 2014
6.48pm - Not a great start for Durham Jets at Edgbaston. They are 17 for two after three overs. Both openers are gone with Mark Stoneman run out while Phil Mustard fell to Boyd Rankin.
6.44pm - Tom Smith has blasted out of the blocks in the Roses game. He started a Jack Brooks over six, four, four and now Richard Pyrah is copping some of the same. His first four balls of the over all go to the rope and Smith has a half-century from 22 balls - the fastest of the competition this season so far.
6.42pm - Tom Wells takes 18 from the final over, bowled by Russell, to finish unbeaten on 45 from 28 balls and help Leicestershire post 164 for six against Worcestershire.
Lancs 24-0 after 3. Smith 20, Davies 3.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) June 6, 2014
6.37pm - Raine survives the hat-trick ball from Ajmal who goes for just three from his final over. The Foxes are 145 for six with an over left.
6.34pm - No heroics from Sammy tonight. The West Indies all-rounder makes just three before he edges Alfonso Thomas behind to Craig Kieswetter.
At Grace Road, Saeed Ajmal is on a hat-trick after removing Scott Styris and Rob Taylor from successive balls.
147/2 after 17 overs Allenby 82 Sammy 3 #GoGlam
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 6, 2014
Foxes 142-4 after 18 overs - Styris 27* and Wells 25* sharing in excess of 50
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) June 6, 2014
6.31pm - Derbyshire Falcons have won the toss and they will bat against Nottinghamshire Outlaws at the 3aaa County Ground. England left-armer Harry Gurney is back for the visitors in place of Luke Fletcher.
Toss coming up in ten minutes at Kent with captain Morgan... #middlesex150#panthers@NatWestT20Blastpic.twitter.com/9Tj37OjGah
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) June 6, 2014
6.24pm - Chris Cooke sends Overton over the ropes, but he is out next ball for 18. Glamorgan are 128 for two after 15 overs. In comes Mr Darren Sammy.
Foxes 104-4 after 14
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) June 6, 2014
6.15pm - Birmingham Bears have decided to bowl first against Durham Jets at Edgbaston.
6.12pm - Allenby has reached his half-century from 32 balls at Taunton, but his opening partner Jacques Rudolph departs soon after for 40. That ends a 92-run stand to get Glamorgan rolling.
6.10pm - The spotlight has been on Kevin Pietersen's return to Surrey at the Kia Oval, but Essex Eagles have some handy additions too. Ravi Bopara is back from England duty while Ryan ten Doeschate is back after winning the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders.
WICKET! Caught and bowled by the skipper Mitchell! Smith goes for 24. Leics 90-3 #NotSoRapid#COYRapids
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) June 6, 2014
6.03pm - Lancashire Lightning have won the toss in the Roses clash at Emirates Old Trafford. The hosts will bat first in front of a full house. Essex Eagles have opted to bowl first against Surrey at the Kia Oval.
6.02pm - Leicestershire are 70 for two after nine overs. They have set a solid platform.
Glamorgan 59 without loss after 7 overs - we need a wicket!!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) June 6, 2014
5.52pm - Allenby is firing for Glamorgan. The Western Australian has 35 from 20 balls and his side are 48 without loss after six. It's a healthy start.
Meanwhile, Leicestershire are 48 for two after the powerplay against the Rapids.
5.48pm - Chris Russell has two wickets in the over as he now removes O'Brien for 15. Daryl Mitchell holds the catch.
WICKET! Shantry takes a great one-handed catch from the bowling of Russell, Cobb goes for 27. Leics 36-1 #COYRapids
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) June 6, 2014
5.42pm - It is the Glamorgan captain who also hits the first six of the evening at Taunton. Jim Allenby clears the ropes off Craig Overton and his side are 22 for none after three.
5.40pm - Leicestershire skipper Josh Cobb belts Shantry for a pair of maximums, either side of a four, and the Foxes are motoring early. They are 32 for none after three overs.
First boundary of the afternoon. Jim/Jill Allenby the man... https://t.co/GgYJCOCOn5
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 6, 2014
5.31pm - Three balls into the evening's action and we have a five! Niall O'Brien is the beneficiary for the Foxes as they take seven all up from Jack Shantry's opening over at Grace Road.
All set pic.twitter.com/2J7wIaveSu
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) June 6, 2014
5.25pm - Andrew Salter has replaced Will Owen for Glamorgan. The Welsh side have not won a Twenty20 at Taunton since their first attempt in 2004.
5.20pm - The Foxes have made three changes with Scott Styris, Ben Raine and James Sykes in for Ramnaresh Sarwan, Anthony Ireland and Michael Thornely. Tom Kohler-Cadmore is the man to replace Moeen for the Rapids.
And @KP24 is out in the nets http://t.co/OaaDctg9eC
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 6, 2014
5.13pm - Leicestershire Foxes have won the toss and opted to bat at home to a Worcestershire Rapids side that is without Moeen Ali. Glamorgan are out to end their 10-year hoodoo at Taunton and will also bat first.
Allenby wins toss and aims to simply score as many runs as possible #simples
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 6, 2014
5.10pm - There are plenty of other stars about tonight too. After predicting he would hit the winning runs on his debut last week, and then delivering, Darren Sammy is back in action for Glamorgan. Kevin Pietersen will also pull on a Surrey shirt again after returning from the IPL.
5.05pm - The big news all week was whether Andrew Flintoff was set to make his comeback in tonight's Roses match against Yorkshire Vikings. That ain't going to happen, yet, so a packed crowd at Emirates Old Trafford will just have to contend themselves with a showdown between Jos Buttler and Aaron Finch! I'd suggest they have probably scored the best two limited-overs centuries in this country in the past 12 months.
READ: Your Friday night #T20Blast fixtures. @amlahash@KP24@DijaRyder@AaronFinch5@josbuttler all in action... pic.twitter.com/jzv710qwht
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 5, 2014
5pm - Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage of the eight NatWest T20 Blast games around the country. It looks like a perfect evening for cricket too, with blue skies and sunshine. Long may that last this summer.