NatWest T20 Blast review: Kevin Pietersen shines as Surrey beat Essex

Wednesday results

North Group, New Road: Derbyshire (189-7) beat Worcestershire (186-5) by seven wickets

South Group, The Oval: Surrey (150-9) beat Essex (140-7) by 10 runs

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Review

Kevin Pietersen hit four sixes in an over as he made an explosive return to domestic cricket for Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The 37-year-old's 52 off 35 balls - his highest score in 22 games for Surrey in the format - helped his side to victory over Essex by 10 runs, their third win in five South Group games in front of a 23,508 crowd at the Kia Oval.

Defending a total of 150 for nine on a two-paced pitch, Surrey restricted Essex to 140 for seven, although Pietersen was unable to field because of a calf strain. The hosts said it was too early to assess whether he would recover in time for Friday's game against Middlesex.

Pietersen was playing his first domestic match for nearly two years and aiming to improve on a modest competition average for Surrey of 22.30.

That looked unlikely in the 10th over when, on 12, he picked out deep midwicket with a slog sweep but Dan Lawrence dropped a straightforward catch - to the obvious frustration of the unlucky bowler Ashar Zaidi.

Earlier, Pietersen reverse-hit his fifth ball from Simon Harmer for his first boundary but it was in the South African off-spinner's third over that Essex paid for dropping him. Pietersen hit the first two deliveries for six into the crowd at long-on and repeated the shots off the final two balls of an over which cost 26 runs and forced Harmer, the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship this season, out of the attack.

Pietersen added 43 with Dominic Sibley in the most productive stand of the Surrey innings and he also launched Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate back over his head for his fifth six before holing out to long-on off Paul Walter in the 16th over, three balls after reaching his 40th half-century in T20.

Finch made 21 in an opening stand of 40 in four overs with England's Jason Roy, but both fell victim to Mohammad Amir - who was the pick of a disciplined Essex attack with two wickets for 13 runs. Walter picked up three wickets in 12 balls to finish with three for 24.

Essex began their chase confidently, but after openers Varun Chopra (27) and Dan Lawrence (24) were parted in the seventh over with the score on 47 no Essex batsman was able to play with the freedom Pietersen had shown earlier.

Surrey captain Gareth Batty picked up Tom Westley (17), courtesy of a smart stumping by Kumar Sangakkara, who was keeping wicket for the first time in England since 2014, and Adam Wheater off successive balls. When Jade Dernbach had Ravi Bopara held at long-off for 24, ten Doeschate had too much to do.

He struck boundaries off Dernbach to leave Essex needing 19 to win off the final over but the impressive Tom Curran held his nerve and conceded just eight runs.

Experienced duo Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen powered Derbyshire to a third win in four Natwest T20 Blast matches as Worcestershire suffered another home defeat.

The hosts posted a target of 187 thanks to the efforts of Joe Clarke, Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox but Derbyshire made light work of their chase to win by a seven wickets with 10 balls to spare.

Godleman and Madsen added 93 in 10 overs for the third wicket, with Godleman scoring a format-best 70 and Madsen finishing unbeaten on 58.

Worcestershire have lost their opening three Blast matches - all at New Road - and face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Rapids were put into bat under murky skies and Daryl Mitchell holed out to wide mid on in Madsen's opening over.

Clarke reeled off a series of impressive strokes, mixing power with delicate ramp and scoop shots, in making 42 off only 18 balls.

The England Lions batsman was eventually bowled by a Hardus Viljoen full-toss to leave Worcestershire 58 for two.

Madsen and Imran Tahir then slowed the run rate and Brett D'Oliveira (23) was trapped lbw by the former attempting a reverse sweep.

Tahir claimed his 199th victim in domestic T20 cricket when Mitchell Santner was caught behind but his last over cost 16 runs and the hosts regained momentum via Cox and Whiteley.

Whiteley produced typically big hitting against his former club but he had an escape on 23 when Derbyshire debutant Callum Brodrick spilled a straightforward chance at deep mid-wicket off Matt Henry.

Whiteley eventually fell in the final over after making 39 but Cox continued his good form in making an unbeaten 40 and John Hastings pulled and straight drove Henry's last two deliveries for six.

Derbyshire openers Godleman and Matt Critchley gave their side a fine start, adding 57 from four overs as Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach conceded 28 runs in two overs and spinner George Rhodes' one over went for 19.

Jack Shantry, who passed a fitness test on an ankle injury, had Critchley (31) caught at deep mid-wicket.

The introduction into the attack of Santner quickly paid dividends as Luis Reece was caught at long on.

But Madsen wrestled the initiative back by striking three fours in Santner's third over which cost 15 runs.

Madsen had a let-off on 36 as Leach at mid off spilled a chance off Ed Barnard. Godleman was stumped by Cox off Santner but by then only 18 were needed for victory.