Coverage of another exciting night of NatWest T20 Blast action as Essex’s win and Hampshire’s loss put the Eagles top of the South Group while Worcestershire and Lancashire endured washouts to stay level on points atop the North Group.
By Dominic Farrell & Rob Barnett
Follow NatWest T20 Blast on Twitter
9.56pm – Here’s a round-up of tonight’s scintillating action:
South Group
Essex went top as they chased a revised 125 with eight wickets in hand versus Somerset, Mark Pettini seeing the Eagles home with an unbeaten 60.
Hampshire lost top spot as Surreythumped them by eight wickets on the back of Jason Roy’s 25-ball 63.
Sam Northeast’s 75 was in vain as Gloucestershireheld their nerve to beatKent Spitfires from the last ball of the 20th over, Adam Rouse the hero with 35 not out off 16 deliveries.
Lewis Hatchett and Will Beer each struck thrice as Middlesex Panthers were skittled for 107. Chris Nash’ unbeaten 74 saw Sussex Sharksto a comfortable win.
North Group
Worcestershire Rapids stayed top on net run-rate despite suffering a washout versus Nottinghamshire Outlaws.
Lancashire Lightning remained level on points with Worcestershire after a sold-out Roses clash withYorkshire Vikings was disappointing abandoned without a ball bowled.
Derbyshire Falconsenjoyed their first win of the Blast campaign, overhauling Birmingham Bears’ 189 for five with an over to spare.
Durham Jets reached 69 for four against Northants Steelbacks, the defending champions, but rain prevented the game going any further.
9.47pm – RESULT! Derbyshire Falcons (193/7) defeat Birmingham Bears (189/5) by three wickets at the 3aaa County Ground. The Bears’ score looked like a match-winner, but Wes Durston’s 21-ball 53 set the Falcons soaring towards their first win of the Blast campaign! They did it with an over unused.
FOUR! Wainwright wins the game with another four! #DERvBIR#P2bD
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 27, 2014
9.43pm - Tony Palladino and Chris Wright are playing it cool. The Falcons need six from the last two overs.
9.37pm - Alex Hughes suddenly makes Derbyshire favourites by blasting 24 from 10 balls, including two sixes and two fours in Rankin’s next over. But Chris Woakes then bowls him at 175 for seven in the 17th.
9.26pm – It’s two wickets in the over for Rankin, who is hit for six by Scott Elstone but strikes next ball. Birmingham are on top at the 3aaa County Ground.
9.24pm – RESULT! Sussex Sharks (110/4) beat Middlesex Panthers (107) by six wickets at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Nash fittingly seals victory with a six, going to 74. Sussex romped home against the rock-bottom Panthers with 23 deliveries unused.
9.20pm – The Panthers’ Patel gets a second wicket in two overs with Joe Denly’s fantastic boundary catch ousting Matt Machan, but it’s surely too little too late for Middlesex?
Boyd Rankin makes a vital breakthrough, bowling Wayne Madsen for 42. Derbyshire are 135 for five in the 13th over, chasing 190.
9.12pm – Chris Nash moves to a half-century as Sussex stay on course to overhaul Middlesex’s 107 despite Rory Hamilton-Brown departing for 17 to Ravi Patel.
Another Patel strikes! It’s Jeetan of the Bears who importantly has Marcus North caught and bowled for just nine.
View from the commentary box pic.twitter.com/7qTaKafVbG
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 27, 2014
9pm – While those results are coming in Derbyshire’s Wes Durston races to a 20-ball fifty but then falls to Shoaib Malik, making the Falcons 78 for three in the seventh over as they go after Birmingham’s 189 for five.
It's going to be some atmosphere next week when @surreycricket's Roy, Dilshan, KP trade shots @EssexCricket versus Ryder, Bopara, Napier...
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 27, 2014
Also, Sussex lose a second wicket at 35 in the fifth over as Middlesex keep fighting.
8.52pm – Frustratingly for Northants and Durham there is no result at Wantage Road. The visitors finished up on 69 for four from 10 overs. The Steelbacks are sixth in the North Group and the Jets seventh.
8.48pm – RESULT! Surrey (137/2) see off Hampshire (131/9) by eight wickets at the Kia Oval. Essex go top because Hampshire have lost to Surrey, who move to third. Gary Wilson ends it with a four and a six consecutively off Coles to reach 31. Pietersen is 24 not out. Surrey had a massive six overs in hand.
8.44pm – RESULT! Essex Eagles (125/2) defeat Somerset (150/7) by eight wickets on Duckworth/Lewis at Taunton. Pettini is unbeaten on 60 and Ravi Bopara 33 as the Eagles get home with an over remaining to go top of the South Group!
The Bells Kia Stand has become very popular as the rain continues to fall over the County Ground. pic.twitter.com/NLI0WKdU7X
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) June 27, 2014
So Essex need 125 to win off 17 overs and they are currently 112 for 2 from 15. So its 13 runs from 12....
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) June 27, 2014
8.39pm – Derbyshire lose a wicket from the first ball of their innings as Rikki Clarke bags big-hitting Chesney Hughes.
Kevin Pietersen hits Glenn Maxwell for two consecutive sixes to take Surrey into three figures.
James Harris cheaply traps Luke Wright in front early in Sussex’s chase.
8.28pm – Hampshire strike twice but Surrey are still well on course. Danny Briggs bowls Dislhan for 15 and Matt Coles ousts Roy for 63 from 25 balls.
They’re off for bad light at Taunton with Essex 106 for two in the 15th over chasing 151.
Rain is delaying proceedings at Wantage Road where Durham are 69 for four in the 10th of 15 overs.
@DerbyshireCCC Glad the rain cleared off for my first T20 match! #The3aaaCountyGround#tweetfromyourseat#DERvBIRpic.twitter.com/UocqRjPFVZ
— Lucy Dean (@lucyduk) June 27, 2014
50 for Mark Pettini with a single to third man It includes 4 x 4. 104 for 2 from 14.2 SomvEss
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 27, 2014
8.16pm - Tillakaratne Dilshan is playing second fiddle to Jason Roy, who is 37 not out as Surrey’s fifty comes up in the fifth over.
Jonathon Webb blazed his way to a 33-ball half-century as Birmingham Bears finished on 189 for five against Derbyshire, while Hatchett rounds things off in style - ending with 3-23 as Middlesex are 107 all out.
Ben Stokes has gone for Durham. Steven Crook was the bowler celebrating and the Jets are struggling on 56 for four.
8.10pm - RESULT! Gloucesterhire (154/7) beat Kent Spitfires (150/6) by three wickets at the Bristol. Sensational last-ball drama as Rouse, who only made his debut against Middlesex yesterday, clubs his third four of the final over off the last ball of the match to finish with an unbeaten, match-winning 35. Remember the name!
Halfway stage and Essex are 76 for 2...
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) June 27, 2014
8.07pm - Make that five from three. Is Adam Rouse set to be the hero for the visitors?
8.05pm - Gloucestershire need 12 from the final over...
Wicket! Taylor b Griffiths 19. Gloucestershire 132/7 (18.3 overs) #GLOvKEN
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) June 27, 2014
8.02pm - Olly Stone tears into Durham with two wickets in two balls! Callum McLeod and Paul Collingwood are the men to go. Mark Stoneman kept out the hat-trick ball but this looks like a rebuilding job for the Jets.
7.55pm - Despite losing Jesse Ryder to Lewis Gregory for 28, Essex have started their chase in good shape and are 56 for one at Taunton.
Wicket! @david_willey removes Phil Mustard's off stump for a duck. @DurhamCricket are 11/1 from two overs #GoSteelbacks#reigndefendconquer
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) June 27, 2014
7.50pm - All things considered, that’s a fine recovery by Hampshire to post 131 for nine. Chris Wood struck 27 and Kyle Abbott smashed 11 from three balls at the end of the innings. Those two have plenty more to do with the ball. Game on!
Slight wobble for Warwickhshire, who have Porterfield and Chopra back in the hutch for 74 and 35 respectively. Still, 129 for two with six overs to play with is a fine platform.
James Tredwell weaves his magic to bowl Will Gidman and Gloucestershire are 106 for six.
7.37pm - Batting does not look an easy past time at the moment - unless you’re a Bear! More success for Beer leaves Middlesex 53 for five.
7.30pm - That unfortunate news from Headingley means Lancashire return to being level on points with Worcestershire at the North Group summit, while Yorkshire remain fifth regardless of tonight’s results.
Will Beer bowls Dawid Malan and Steffan Piolet traps Dan Christian lbw to leave Middlesex in heaps of bother on 49 for four.
Porterfield is 55 not out and Varun Chopra has 32 as Birmingham rattle along to 88 without loss after nine overs.
It’s a tall order for Gloucestershire now - Ian Cockbain falls caught behind off Adam Ball to leave them 60 for four.
Match Abandoned at Headingley. Here is the Ticket Exchange Policy http://t.co/v66Wv0BSBB@NatWestT20Blast@LancsCCCpic.twitter.com/wDqfdXBTCu
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) June 27, 2014
7.24pm - A recovery of sorts for Hampshire but Will Smith is stumped for 25 off Zafar Ansari and the score is 92 for seven with four overs remaining.
7.20pm - It’s the news we feared from New Road, where the game between Worcestershire Rapids and Nottinghamshire Outlaws is abandoned without a ball being bowled. Both teams take home a point, with Notts edging ahead of Birmingham into third for the time being.
It means a victory would send Lancashire top of the North Group, but the rain continues to fall at Headingley.
Durham Jets win the toss and elect to bat. Game scheduled to start at 7:45pm https://t.co/WJ75YWc8oC
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) June 27, 2014
7.17pm - Fifty partnership for the Bears and much of that is down to Will Porterfield, who has battered 35 off 16 balls so far.
Alviro Petersen knocks a valuable, unbeaten 26 as Somerset post 150 for seven.
7.15pm - The last thing Hampshire needed was a run-out. Matt Coles might want to hang his head when he returns to the dressing room!
Aussie seamers are tearing into Gloucestershire. Claydon drew an edge behind from Chris Dent for his second, while countryman Doug Bollinger just clattered through Hamish Marshall’s defences. At 36 for three, the victory target if 151 looks some way off!
WICKET..Morgan edges behind to Brown from Anyon and Middlesex are 15/2 in the third over #sharklove
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 27, 2014
7.09pm - Joe Denly has his furniture rearranged by Lewis Hatchett and Middlesex are 12 for one.
Meanwhile, Hampshire’s strife continues as Sean Ervine follows dangerman Glenn Maxwell back to the pavilion. The damage currently reads 55 for five.
No such worries for Birmingham as yet, who are 17 without loss in the third over.
Essex continue to chip away, with David Masters and Reece Topley in on the act. Somerset are 133 for six and have two overs to improve their total.
7.03pm - Gloucestershire began their run-chase in confident fashion but Mitchell Claydon snaffles a return catch to send Alex Gidman packing.
Looks like curtains @WorcsCCC v @TrentBridgepic.twitter.com/Tmij8IbI7V
— Dan Wheeler (@danjlwheeler) June 27, 2014
6.58pm - Somerset continue to falter as Tim Phillips pins James Hildreth lbw, while the rain is falling once more at New Road.
6.53pm - Somerset struggling to keep Bopara out of the game as he runs out Trego for 34.
Hampshire are in a fair bit of trouble at the Kia Oval. Chris Tremlett dismisses fellow Ashes tourist Michael Carberry caught behind and the South Group leaders are 36 for three in the sixth.
6.46pm - They’ve mainly brought him in for his sensational hitting but Tillakaratne Dilshan is in the wickets for Surrey. Jimmy Adams goes for 10 and Hampshire are 29 for two.
Kieswetter smashes a huge six off Bopara but falls next ball trying to repeat the trick. Ryan ten Doeschate holds the catch and Somerset are 100 for two midway though the 13th over.
6.41pm - The similarly impressive McCarter accounted for Northeast before Kent finished their 20 overs on 150 for six.
Somerset are looking at something a little more imposing and are 88 for one after 11. Kieswetter and Trego have 31 and 32 respectively.
PERSONAL BEST! Cap doffed to young Sam Northeast of @kentcricket. He records his highest T20 score before falling for 75. KEN 142-5 (18.4)
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 27, 2014
Hants 9-1 in 2nd over..Vince c Wilson b Mahmood 8
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 27, 2014
6.34pm - I’m afraid we’re waiting on another pitch inspection, this time at 7pm, at Wantage Road. Derbyshire have won the toss and asked Birmingham Bears to post a total.
6.32pm - Somerset are 58 for one after eight overs and Essex will want to break the developing partnership between Craig Kieswetter and Peter Trego sooner rather than later. That one could definitely get out of hand quickly for the visitors!
@SomersetCCC Large rainbow towards Yeovil pic.twitter.com/SGYCsBwgqu
— Ray Mitchell (@Mundo311) June 27, 2014
6.26pm - Graeme McCarter has been economical for Gloucestershire tonight and the medium pacer is in the wickets as Alex Blake falls for one off five deliveries. Northeast remains on 62 but Kent’s failure to provide him with much middle-order support could cost them.
6.19pm - That’s a big wicket for Gloucestershire as dangerman Darren Stevens falls to Benny Howell shortly before Northeast brings up his fifty.
STAT ATTACK: @hantscricket have scored most runs in #T20Blast this year. How many have your team mustered? pic.twitter.com/DN3ehoytgV
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) June 27, 2014
6.13pm - The returning Graham Napier comes out on top in the showdown between two of the English limited-overs game’s heavyweights. He dismisses Trescothick and Somerset are 20 for one.
6.10pm - At the Kia Oval, Surrey have won the toss and will bow against Hampshire.
Daniel Bell-Drummond is out for 32 but Kent’s Sam Northeast is motoring towards a half-century with three sixes to his name.
6.03pm - Marcus Trescothick is straight out of the blocks with a couple of fours, while Kent are 65 for one as they approach the halfway stage of their innings.
Good news the rain has stopped, hopefully the outfield will dry out quick enough to get a game. Latest time we can start is 8.58pm
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) June 27, 2014
5.50pm - Essex have won the toss and will bowl when they get cracking down over at Taunton.
5.47pm - Breakthrough for Gloucestershire as left-armer David Payne sends Rob Key back for 14. Kent are 32 for one after five.
@Yorkshireccc@YorkshireTea It was cracking the flags in Lancashire when we set off. It all changed when we crossed the border!!
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 27, 2014
5.36pm - Kent are 14 without loss after two overs and we’re waiting for things to really spark at Bristol.
Stunning weather here with gates about to open at Hove... #sharklovepic.twitter.com/xxKg5JlB7u
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 27, 2014
5.28pm - We’re set for a 6pm start at Taunton. at which point the umpires will inspect again at Worcester. So, it’s all eyes on Gloucestershire versus Kent…
.@SomersetCCC back warming up, let's hope the rain stays away! pic.twitter.com/LGUSFPD3n8
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) June 27, 2014
5.25pm - Another man to speak to ecb.co.uk this week only to find himself inside a rain-lashed pavilion is Worcestershire’s Chris Russell. Read more here from the in-form seamer, who has played a starring role in the Rapids’ rise to the top of the North Group.
WEATHER UPDATE | So, the covers are off and the Groundstaff are out working on the ground. No news yet regarding an inspection #DERvBIR
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 27, 2014
5.15pm - As at New Road, rain is also going to delay proceedings in Leeds. We’re set to get under way on time in Bristol though, where Gloucestershire have won the toss and will field against the Spitfires.
Heavy rain at Worcester, delayed start looks inevitable #cricketpic.twitter.com/YuihK62dvd
— Robin Chipperfield (@sportchippers) June 27, 2014
5.05pm - Of course, the game on everyone’s lips tonight is at Headingley, where Yorkshire and Lancashire will write the latest chapter in their famous old rivalry. The White Rose were triumphant when the sides met at Emirates Old Trafford earlier this month, although the Lightning have displayed superb form in the shortest format and are joint top of the North Group with six wins from eight matches.
Have a look at what Vikings star Jonny Bairstow had to say ahead of the match here.
5pm - Hello and welcome to another Friday night offering of NatWest T20 Blast action. We have eight more games for your enjoyment, with the first two getting going in 30 minutes. Here's the order of play:
Gloucestershire v Kent Spitfires, 5.30pm - Bristol
Somerset v Essex Eagles, 5.30pm - Taunton
Worcestershire Rapids v Nottinghamshire Outlaws, 5.30pm - New Road
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning, 5.30pm - Headingley
Northants Steelbacks v Durham Jets, 6.30pm - Wantage Road
Surrey v Hampshire, 6.30pm - the Kia Oval
Sussex Sharks v Middlesex Panthers, 7pm - the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground
Derbshire Falcons v Birmingham Bears, 7pm - the 3aaa County Ground