NatWest T20 Blast review: Wins for Birmingham and Kent

Saturday's NatWest T20 Blast results

North Group, Northampton: Birmingham beat Northamptonshire by two runs
South Group, Ageas Bowl: Kent beat Hampshire by five runs

Aaron Thomason held his nerve to defend 13 from the final over as Birmingham Bears beat Northamptonshire by two runs at Wantage Road to go top of the North Group of the NatWest T20 Blast.

The 20-year-old, playing just his 13th T20 match, was trusted with two of the final three overs of the game from the Wilson End when 27 were needed from 18 balls.

He conceded seven from the 18th and then Jeetan Patel presented the youngster with 13 to defend from the final six. Alex Wakely struck the second ball of the over for six down the ground but despite reducing the equation to four from two balls, Thomason held his nerve with a couple of excellent yorkers.

It was a chase that Northamptonshire were always well in touch with - and Wakely’s 52 from 34 balls appeared to be steering them home - but they could never get over the line and missed the chance to move to the top of the group.

Kent's bowlers held their nerve to back up Daniel Bell-Drummond's ninth career T20 fifty as the Spitfires edged a last-over thriller to beat Hampshire by five runs in the Natwest T20 Blast.

England Lions star Bell-Drummond hit 62 to help the visitors reach 159 for six on a slow track.

A wicket apiece for Matt Coles, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Claydon and James Tredwell restricted Hampshire to just 154.

Birmingham can be backed at 7/1 with Sky Bet to take the T20 title and Kent are on offer at 12/1.