​Somerset kept their T20 Blast title defence alive with a dominant 78-run victory over Worcestershire in a crucial one-game shootout to reach the quarter-finals. Will Smeed’s half-century laid the groundwork for the Rapids to set a target of 195, and then Jack Leach and Riley Meredith each claimed three wickets to help skittle Worcestershire for just 116.
Essex dismissed Surrey by eight wickets at The Kia Oval to secure qualification as one of the best third-placed teams, coming at the expense of Lancashire Lightning despite their win earlier on Sunday against Durham. Elsewhere, Yorkshire continued their bid for a first T20 Blast title with an 18-run win over Nottinghamshire at Headingley. Although England batter Joe Root managed only 2, Adam Lyth’s 52 helped the home side post 193, before Root took two wickets as the visitors fell short. Hampshire ensured themselves a home tie in the last eight by beating Sussex in the South Group, while in the Central & West section Northamptonshire slipped to a third defeat in their past four matches, having already topped the group.
Joe Root also took two wickets to help Yorkshire beat Nottinghamshire and reach the quarter-finals. Games are set for 16:30 BST on Wednesday, 15 July, unless stated: Utilita Bowl: Hampshire Hawks v Essex; Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Surrey; Headingley: Yorkshire v Somerset; cinch County Ground: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Gloucestershire (17:00). Final T20 Blast group tables reflect the latest results as teams chase the crown.
Yorkshire began emphatically at Headingley, racing out of the blocks with Lyth and Will Luxton (38) sharing an 89-run opening stand inside the first eight overs. Jonny Bairstow (32) and Logan van Beek (28) helped set the already-qualified visitors a target of 194. Root’s two wickets, along with Andrew Tye (3-18) and Hassan Ali (2-30), reduced Notts to 107-7, but some late hitting from Dillon Pennington (37) threatened to derail the Yorkshire charge before he fell to Tye for his second wicket. Adam Lyth’s 52 aided Yorkshire in posting a challenging total.
At Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire found the run chase tougher than expected after Durham had posted 141 all out following a toss decision to bat first. Only Colin Ackermann (66 not out) could mount a sustained reply against disciplined Lancashire bowling as Shadab Khan and Saqib Mahmood each claimed three wickets. Lancashire looked to be cruising at 117-4 at the start of the 17th over, but a three-wicket burst from Ben Raine (4-21) tightened the margins, leaving nerves jangling among home supporters until Keaton Jennings (41 not out) steered them home with two balls to spare. Essex’s win over Surrey, however, meant Lancashire finished on 26 points—two short of the two best third-placed teams (Essex and Gloucestershire, both on 28 points).