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July 12, 2024
Here’s a recap of the latest action from the 2024 Vitality Blast.
For the second consecutive year, the eagerly anticipated Roses clash at Emirates Old Trafford ended in disappointment. Persistent rain caused the match to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. The rain briefly paused before the scheduled 7 p.m. start but returned, forcing umpires Alex Wharf and Rob White to call off the game just after 7:15 p.m.
Despite the rain easing at times, the umpires were concerned about several wet areas on the outfield and deemed it unsafe for play.
This was Lancashire’s third no-result in their last four games, including two consecutive washouts after a similar outcome against Derbyshire the previous night. With 15 points from 12 matches, Lancashire remain second in the North Group and are on course for the quarter-finals, with two games remaining.
The result, however, is more damaging for Yorkshire, which is stuck on 11 points from 12 games and remains outside the top four. They must win their remaining two fixtures to have a chance at making it to the next round.
Durham bolstered their chances of reaching the quarter-finals with a comfortable 30-run win over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at the Seat Unique Riverside.
Batting first, Durham posted a competitive total of 160 for 6. Ashton Turner’s unbeaten 44 and Ben Raine’s 23* helped the hosts recover from 106 for 6, building a vital 54-run partnership. Nottinghamshire’s Lyndon James impressed with 3 for 31.
The Outlaws started brightly but faltered in reply as Callum Parkinson led a superb Durham bowling attack, taking 3 for 15. Nottinghamshire struggled to build momentum and was eventually restricted to 130 for 9, suffering their sixth-season defeat.
The win propels Durham back into the top four with two games left to play, meaning their destiny is in their own hands. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire remain at the bottom of the North Group, with little hope of making it to the quarter-finals.
New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham’s blistering knock of 67 from 34 balls powered Leicestershire Foxes to a crucial three-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks. With the Vitality Blast group stage nearing its end, the Foxes kept their quarter-final hopes alive in this must-win match.
Chasing 184, Leicestershire got off to a strong start, with Sol Budinger smashing five sixes in his rapid 25-ball 45. Neesham took over from there, steering the chase with his explosive innings, securing the win with five balls to spare. The victory lifts Leicestershire to 12 points from 12 matches, with seven teams still vying for four quarter-final spots in the North Group.
Earlier, Northamptonshire posted 183 for 7 after being put into bat. Veteran allrounder Ravi Bopara hit two sixes on his way to a well-made 61 from 44 balls. At the same time, Saif Zaib contributed 50 off 28, including three maximums. At one stage, they looked set for a 200-plus score, but a strong finish by Ben Mike (3 for 17) helped Leicestershire pull things back.
Northamptonshire have the advantage of one more match than Leicestershire, who will face Notts Outlaws at home on Sunday before a tough final fixture against group leaders Birmingham Bears.
Worcestershire Rapids delivered a major upset in the Vitality Blast North Group, defeating table-toppers Birmingham Bears by 55 runs in a rain-affected 17-over-per-side contest at Edgbaston.
The Rapids put up an impressive 187 for 6, with critical contributions from Kashif Ali, who smashed 46 from 30 balls, and Matthew Waite, who lit up the final over with 34 runs, taking George Garton to the cleaners. Waite, fresh off a five-wicket haul in the previous game against Leicestershire, followed his batting heroics by blasting an unbeaten 36 off just eight deliveries.
Birmingham’s reply never gained momentum after losing both openers for ducks, and they were eventually bowled out for 132 in 15.2 overs. Dan Mousley fighting 68 was the lone highlight. Still, it wasn’t enough against a clinical Worcestershire attack led by Waite (4 for 29) and Tom Taylor (3 for 27).
This back-to-back victory keeps Worcestershire’s slim hopes of qualification alive. Meanwhile, Birmingham remains well-placed for the quarter-finals but faces some work to secure a home tie after suffering their third loss in 11 games.
Sussex Sharks cruised to a dominant 88-run victory over Kent Spitfires in the Vitality Blast at Canterbury. Sussex, who now have one foot in the quarter-finals, overcame a shaky start at 64 for 4 to post a commanding 203 for 4, thanks to an unbroken 139-run partnership between Tom Alsop and John Simpson.
Jas Singh had briefly raised Kent’s hopes by taking two wickets in three balls, but Alsop blasted 87 from just 41 balls. At the same time, Simpson anchored the innings with a steady 53 from 39 deliveries.
In response, Kent’s Tawanda Muyeye offered some resistance with an elegant 45 off 25 balls. Still, James Coles’ superb figures of 4 for 12 saw the Spitfires collapse to 115 all out with 3.4 overs to spare. The loss keeps Kent rooted to the bottom of the South Group as they squandered yet another promising position.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s match-winning half-century propelled Somerset to a thrilling six-wicket victory over South Group leaders Surrey under the lights at Taunton. Chasing 183, Kohler-Cadmore smashed 51 from 32 balls, including three sixes and three fours, forming a crucial 67-run partnership for the third wicket with Tom Abell.
George Thomas, impressing on his debut, contributed a brisk 40 from 25 balls. At the same time, Sean Dickson’s composed unbeaten 20 ensured Somerset reached their target with six balls to spare.
Earlier, Surrey posted 182 for 5, built around a 107-run stand between Sam Curran (59 off 42) and Rory Burns (62 off 44). Jamie Overton added a late flourish with a quickfire 30*. Despite the defeat, Surrey remained on course for the knockout stages. At the same time, Somerset’s victory solidifies their place in the top four.
Benny Howell played a starring role against his former side, smashing a brutal half-century to help Hampshire Hawks secure a vital five-wicket win over Gloucestershire. Howell, who had already taken two wickets to restrict Gloucestershire to 176, then unleashed with the bat, hitting four sixes and five fours to equal his T20 career-best of 62*.
Gloucestershire, who have never won a T20 at the Ageas Bowl, were pegged back by Howell’s all-round performance, allowing Hampshire to chase down the target with three balls to spare. The win leaves Hampshire just four points behind qualification places, while Gloucestershire, in fourth place, remains two points behind Essex.
Middlesex secured a six-wicket victory over Glamorgan in a rain-shortened 10-over match in Cardiff. Luke Hollman’s four-wicket haul and contributions from Leus du Plooy and Martin Andersson helped Middlesex chase a modest target.
Glamorgan struggled to build momentum, losing wickets regularly to end at 88 for 9. Despite some tight bowling, Middlesex reached 89 for 4 with three balls to spare. Glamorgan now face a challenging task to qualify, needing to win all their remaining matches and rely on favorable results.
For Middlesex, this win may be too late, as they can only reach a maximum of 13 points in the group.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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