NatWest T20 Blast review: Yorkshire run continues

21:50 · THU July 27, 2017

A review of Wednesday's action in the NatWest T20 Blast as Yorkshire remained in fine form as they saw off Durham.

Wednesday's NatWest T20 Blast results

Trent Bridge: Worcestershire (208-8) beat Notts (195-5) by 13 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire (152-8) beat Durham (128-7) by 24 runs
Taunton: Somerset (204-9) beat Hampshire (190) by 14 runs

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Wednesday's review

Yorkshire maintained their strong pursuit of a quarter-final berth in the NatWest T20 Blast with another home win, this time against beleaguered Durham as they routinely defended a 153 target.

The Vikings have won three matches at Headingley in six days, beating Birmingham and Worcestershire before this 24-run success, which saw them cut to 6/1 for outright glory by Sky Bet.

They smashed 233 for six to beat the Rapids on Sunday, with visiting batsman Ross Whiteley striking six sixes in an over. But this game was completely different.

Played on a sluggish pitch, the bowlers dominated in both innings, with Yorkshire's Adil Rashid taking a career best four for 19 from his four overs.

The Vikings could only post 152 for eight, a total which proved way beyond the Jets despite them taking 10 off the first over of the chase.

They reached 25 for two after six overs and 51 for three at halfway before slipping to 128 for seven.

While Yorkshire claimed their fourth win in seven games this season to sit top of the North Group on 10 points, Durham fell to a sixth straight defeat - their worst run in a T20 season.

The Vikings have now won their last eight Blast home games dating back to early last season.

Worcestershire Rapids secured a first victory of the season in the NatWest T20 Blast with a 13-run win against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.

The home side had been set a target of 209 for a fourth consecutive win but found themselves pegged back after an aggressive start and could only post 195 for five.

Riki Wessels made 49 and Alex Hales scored 44 in the chase but John Hastings proved to be an effective match-winner for the Rapids, taking three for 31.

Earlier, 60 from Joe Clarke and a punishing sixth-wicket partnership of 60 in just 4.2 overs helped push the Rapids up to 208 for eight, after being asked to bat first.

Clarke scored his runs from only 27 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes to get the visitors off to a flying start, which took them past 50 inside four overs.

After Notts had fought back strongly, Ross Whiteley and Mitchell Santner took it away from them again with some destructive hitting.

Whiteley, who hit six sixes in an over against Yorkshire on Sunday, cleared the ropes on five occasions in making 42 from just 16 balls.

New Zealander Santner also showed his big-hitting prowess with three maximums of his own in making 35 from 20 balls.

Notts remain prominent in the outright market at 13/2, with Worcestershire quoted at 33/1. Only 200/1 shots Durham are a bigger price.

Somerset moved into third place in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group with a 14-run victory over Hampshire in front of a 6,000-plus crowd at Taunton.

Opener Lewis Gregory led the way after the hosts had won the toss, smacking 43 off 20 balls including nine fours, in a total of 204 for nine.

Jim Allenby contributed 37, while Gareth Berg claimed three for 35.

In reply, Hampshire were bowled out for 190, as Lewis McManus top-scored with 34.

Tim Groenewald was the pick of the home attack with two for 28 from his four overs.