The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action from the latest round of matches in the 2024 Vitality Blast
Edgbaston: Leicestershire Foxes 176-6, Derbyshire Falcons 178-6 - Derbyshire won by four wickets
Derbyshire Falcons opened their Vitality Blast account for the season with a tense four-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Edgbaston.
The Foxes chose to bat but stuttered to 97 for 6 as Zak Chappell, Pat Brown and Samit Patel took two wickets apiece before an unbroken stand of 79 in 45 balls by Peter Handscomb (75, 51 balls) and Rehan Ahmed (36, 22) lifted them to 176 for 6.
The Falcons replied with 178 for six in 19.1 overs thanks principally to a high-class partnership of 102 in 58 balls from 40-year-old Wayne Madsen and 39-year-old Patel. Patel smashed 64 (32) in a scintillating knock while Madsen made a composed 43 (35).
Their quality left the Falcons needing 18 from the last 12 balls and Brooke Guest lifted the first and sixth of those balls over the rope to bring the Foxes down to earth after their opening-game victory over Yorkshire Vikings last night.
Related: Left-arm spin illuminates Blast Off's showpiece occasion
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Edgbaston: Birmingham Bears 149, Notts Outlaws 127 - Birmingham Bears won by 22 runs
Buoyant Birmingham Bears made it two wins from two in the Vitality Blast after beating Notts Outlaws by 22 runs in front of a 13,784 at Edgbaston.
Having trounced Durham in their opening game the previous evening, the Bears chose to bat but were bowled out for 149 in 19.3 overs. Rob Yates struck a majestic 68 from 48 balls but nobody else passed 16 as Olly Stone took three for 30 and Luke Fletcher harvested an excellent 4-0-20-2.
The Outlaws then charged to 54 without loss in 35 balls but collapsed to 127 all out against a vastly experienced Bears attack led by Dan Mousley (3 for 22), Hasan Ali (2 for 22), Danny Briggs (two for 26) and Jake Lintott (2 for 29).
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