The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action from the latest round of matches in the 2024 Vitality Blast
North Group
Old Trafford: Lancashire, Yorkshire - match abandoned
The Roses Vitality Blast match at Emirates Old Trafford was abandoned without a ball bowled for the second successive year.
Persistent rain throughout the afternoon in Manchester abated briefly before the scheduled 7pm start time but returned to force umpires Alex Wharf and Rob White to abandoned the match just before 7.15pm.
The umpires were clearly concerned with a number of problem areas on the outfield even if the rain had stopped.
This was Lancashire's third no result in their last four games, including a second in as many nights, having been rained off at Derbyshire last night. They have moved to 15 points from 12 games and remain second-placed in the North Group and on course for the quarter-finals with two to play.
This result was more problematic for Yorkshire, who now have 11 points from 12 games and remain outside the top four. They will have to win their remaining two fixtures to have any chance of qualification.
Riverside: Durham 160-6, Nottinghamshire 130-9 - Durham win by 30 runs
Ashton Turner and Callum Parkinson impressed as Durham strengthened their chances of reaching the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with a comfortable 30-run win over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at the Seat Unique Riverside.
Having been put in to bat, the hosts made a competitive 160 for 6, as Turner (44*) combined with Ben Raine (23*) for a partnership worth 54 after they were struggling at 106 for 6, which was largely down to three wickets from Lyndon James (3 for 31).
The Outlaws made a good start to their chase, but a fantastic Durham bowling performance led by Parkinson (3 for 15) saw the hosts grab their sixth win of the season as they restricted the visitors to 130 for 9.
Durham are now back in the top four with two games to play and their fate is in their own hands, while Notts remain bottom of the North Group.
Benny Howell produced a late show to down Gloucestershire, his former county (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Leicester: Northamptonshire 183-7, Leicestershire 186-7 - Leicestershire win by three wickets
New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham's 67 from 34 balls led Leicestershire Foxes to a three-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in what was a must-win fixture for the home side as the Vitality Blast group stage nears its conclusion.
Sol Budinger earlier hit five sixes in a 25-ball 45 as the Foxes chased down 184 to win with five balls to spare, lifting them to 12 points from 12 matches with seven teams still in contention for the four quarter-final places on offer in the North Group.
Veteran former England allrounder Ravi Bopara hit two sixes as he struck 61 off 44 balls and Saif Zaib three maximums in his 50 off 28 as the Steelbacks posted 183 for 7 after the Foxes had put them in. They had looked on for 200-plus but Ben Mike (3 for 17) led a strong end to the innings by the home side.
The Steelbacks, though, have the benefit of one more match left than the Foxes, who face Notts Outlaws at home on Sunday before travelling to group leaders Birmingham Bears in their final fixture.
Edgbaston: Worcestershire 187-6, Birmingham Bears 132 - Worcestershire win by 55 runs
Worcestershire Rapids turned the Vitality Blast North Group table upside down by beating leaders Birmingham Bears by 55 runs in a rain-reduced 17-overs-per-side match at Edgbaston.
Rapids piled up 187 for 6 thanks to star contributions at either end of their innings. Kashif Ali launched it with a sparkling 46 from 30 balls and Matthew Waite concluded it in spectacular fashion by whacking 34 from the last over by George Garton. Waite, who took 5 for 21 against Leicestershire Foxes the previous evening, blasted 36 not out from eight balls.
The Bears' reply never recovered from losing both openers for ducks and closed on 132 all out from 15.2 overs. Only Dan Mousley (68) threatened for long against a well-focused attack led by Waite (4 for 29) and Tom Taylor (3 for 27).
Back-to-back wins have retained the Rapids' sliver of hope of qualification for the knockout stage. The Bears remain very strongly placed but a third defeat in 11 games leaves them with plenty still to do to seal a home quarter-final.
South Group
Canterbury: Sussex 203-4, Kent 115 - Sussex win by 88 runs
The Sussex Sharks have thrashed the Kent Spitfires by 88 runs in Vitality Blast at Canterbury.
The Sharks have one foot in the quarter-finals after recovering from 64 for 4 to post 203 for 4, thanks to an unbroken stand of 139 between Tom Alsop and John Simpson.
The hosts' hopes had soared after Jas Singh took two wickets in three balls, but Alsop hammered Kent with 87 from just 41 deliveries, while Simpson played the anchor role with 53 from 39.
Tawanda Muyeye hit an elegant 45 from 25 balls, but James Coles took 4 for 12 as the Spitfires wilted in the face of an ever-steepening run rate, collapsing to 115 all out with 3.4 overs remaining.
It was a demoralising evening for the Spitfires, who squandered yet another promising position and remain rock-bottom of the South Group.
Matthew Waite starred for Worcestershire (David Rogers/Getty Images)
Taunton: Surrey 182-5, Somerset 183-4 - Somerset win by six wickets
Tom Kohler-Cadmore powered his way to a match-winning half century as Somerset beat Vitality Blast South Group leaders Surrey by six wickets beneath the floodlights at Taunton.
Set 183 to win, the cider county chased down their target with six balls to spare thanks to a forthright knock of 51 in 32 balls from Kohler-Cadmore, who hit three sixes and a trio of fours and shared in a crucial stand of 67 for the third wicket with Tom Abell.
Academy product George Thomas impressed on his debut, raising an eye-catching 25-ball 40, while Sean Dickson scored a nerveless unbeaten 20 at the death to see Somerset home in front of a sell-out crowd at the Cooper Associates Ground.
Surrey's innings of 182 for 5 was built around a partnership of 107 in 12.2 overs between Sam Curran and Rory Burns. Returning from England duty, Curran raised 59 from 42 balls, Burns top-scored with 62 off 44 deliveries and Jamie Overton smashed a quickfire unbeaten 30 at the death.
Somerset made light work of the chase to achieve an inside-the-distance victory that cemented their position in the top four and kept them on track for a place in the quarter-finals. Despite losing for only the second time this season, Surrey remain top of the table and on course to reach the knockout stages.
Southampton: Gloucestershire 176-9, Hampshire 177-5 - Hampshire win by five wickets
Benny Howell brutally took down his former Gloucestershire teammates with a crash, bang, wallop half century to keep Hampshire Hawks' Vitality Blast hopes alive.
Allrounder Howell had already taken two wickets as Hampshire fought back to restrict their visitors – who have never won a T20 at Utilita Bowl – to 176.
But his out-of-this-world batting saw him club four sixes and five fours to equal his T20 best of 62 not out to start a south coast party.
The Hawks' five wicket win put them four points adrift of the qualification places with three matches to play, while fourth-placed Gloucestershire remain two points behind Essex.
Middlesex won for a second time in two days (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Cardiff: Glamorgan 88-9, Middlesex 89-4 - Middlesex win by six wickets
Middlesex claimed a six-wicket victory over Glamorgan in their Vitality Blast match in a rain shortened contest in Cardiff.
Luke Hollman's four wickets and runs from Leus du Plooy and Martin Andersson in a game that was reduced to 10 overs a side were enough for Middlesex to secure the win.
Glamorgan lost regular wickets as they managed 88 for 9 from their 10 overs and Middlesex chased that down with three balls to spare to finish on 89 for 4.
Glamorgan will likely need to win all of their remaining fixtures and also hope for favourable results elsewhere if they are to progress in this competition. For Middlesex it may already be too late despite this win given that they can finish on a maximum of 13 points.
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