Summary

  • Worcestershire qualify for quarter-finals

  • Jason Roy hits unbeaten 122 in Surrey win

  • Hampshire beat Sussex by four runs

  • Wins for Lancs, Northants & Notts in North Group

  • South Group victories for Essex & Glamorgan

  1. Postpublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    That's about it for the penultimate week in this year's T20 Blast Group stages.

    Congratulations to Worcestershire Rapids who qualified for the quarter-finals.

    However there are still five places up for grabs.

    Be sure to join us next Friday as we'll have live text and radio commentaries from all the games.

    Thank you and goodnight!

  2. WORCESTERSHIRE BEAT DERBYSHIRE BY FOUR WICKETSpublished at 22:44 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Worcestershire RapidsImage source, Getty Images

    Saeed Ajmal's 2-21 and Richard Oliver's battling 45 helped Worcestershire secure a spot in the quarter-finals with a narrow victory over Derbyshire.

    Ajmal starred with the balls as the Falcons slumped to 102-6, but Alex Hughes and Tom Knight made 39 for the eighth wicket as the hosts rallied to 149-8 for their 20 overs.

    Oliver looked to be guiding Worcestershire to a comfortable win, before his dismissal set up a tense finale.

    Joe Leach got the visitors back on track with an unbeaten 18 from 12 deliveries, while Ben Cox held his nerve to hit the winning run with just three balls remaining as Worcestershire reached 150-6.

  3. LANCASHIRE BEAT BIRMINGHAM BEARS BY EIGHT RUNSpublished at 22:42 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Steven CroftImage source, Getty Images

    It was a night to remember at Edgbaston for Steven Croft as his Lancashire side kept their noses in front in the North Group race to the quarter-finals.

    After losing the toss and slumping to 44-4 off just 10 overs, the man from Blackpool wrestled his team back in to the game.

    He struck six fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 64 as the Red Rose posted a competitive 145-6.

    In reply, Brendon McCullum once again looked the danger man for the Bears, but when he went for 41, the momentum turned in the visitors' favour.

    James Faulkner's miserly four overs brought him figures of 3-19 while Croft picked up two wickets himself and a belting catch at point to dismiss Laurie Evans.

    Birmingham Bears were always behind the required rate towards the close and despite Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Ateeq Javid's late efforts, they fell eight runs short.

    Lancashire stay fourth and just ahead of Nottinghamshire on net run-rate with one game remaining.

  4. ESSEX BEAT MIDDLESEX BY FOUR WICKETSpublished at 22:42 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Overseas pair Shaun Tait and Jesse Ryder combined to maintain Essex 's hopes of earning a quarter-final place as they comfortably beat struggling Middlesex.

    Australian Tait took 2-19 from an economical four overs as the visitors could only make 150-5, despite Nick Gubbins' early 46 from 34 balls.

    New Zealander Ryder then took advantage of being dropped twice, hitting eight fours and two sixes in a 39-ball innings of 59.

    Mitchell McClenaghan (2-33) and Harry Podmore (2-28) picked up late wickets for Middlesex as Essex stuttered, but Tom Wesley's 45 from 39 balls helped the hosts over the line.

    Essex visit South Group leaders Kent in their final game next Friday knowing they are likely to need to win to reach the knock-out stages.

  5. HAMPSHIRE BEAT SUSSEX BY FOUR RUNSpublished at 22:41 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    It was a night of boundaries at Hove as the two south coast neighbours clashed - but it was Hampshire who came out on top against Sussex.

    Hampshire posted a huge 204-3 as captain James Vince carried his bat for the third time in this year's competition with an unbeaten 90.

    In reply, Chris Nash and Luke Wright got Sussex off and running with a 98-run partnership and the hosts looked well set to record a huge victory.

    But, Nash went for 88 as Chris Wood claimed three vital wickets.

    Yasir ArafatImage source, Getty Images

    Despite Craig Cachopa's big hitting to bring the chase down to 10 needed off the final over, Yasir Arafat showed all his wisdom and trickery to restrict the Sharks to just five singles as they finished on 200-6.

    Hampshire keep their quarter-final hopes alive while Sussex still need a point to make sure of their place in the last eight.

  6. SURREY BEAT SOMERSET BY 38 RUNSpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    A scintillating T20 career-best 122 not out from Jason Roy propelled Surrey to a convincing victory that killed off Somerset's quarter-final hopes.

    The England one-day opener hammered eight fours and six sixes from 65 balls in stands of 84 with Kumar Sangakkara (31) and an unbeaten 124 with Rory Burns (46 not out).

    In reply to Surrey's 208-1, the visitors slumped to 18-2 and struggled from then on, limping to 170-7 at the close.

    Only James Hildreth (51) went on as four visiting players fell in the twenties, with Sam Curran (2-37) the pick of the Surrey attack.

    The hosts' own hopes of claiming a place in the last eight now depend on their final two matches at Middlesex next Thursday and at home to Sussex on Friday.

  7. NORTHANTS BEAT YORKSHIRE BY SIX WICKETSpublished at 22:38 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Ben Duckett's composed unbeaten 40 helped Northants to a comfortable victory over an inexperienced Yorkshire side at Northampton.

    Yorkshire, who played a number of youngsters, struggled to 153-7 as Alex Lees top scored with 46.

    Richard Levi got the hosts off to a flying start in the chase, smashing 30 off 14 balls before captain Alex Wakely (46) and Duckett saw their side home.

    Northants sit third in the North Group but will have to win next week to guarantee qualification.

  8. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEAT DURHAM BY 42 RUNSpublished at 22:36 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Riki WesselsImage source, Getty Images

    Riki Wessels hit the highest ever score by a Nottinghamshire batsman in domestic T20 cricket as the Outlaws took a big stride towards the quarter finals by beating and eliminating Durham.

    The Jets were on top early on having limited Notts to 13-1 after three overs, but Wessels's arrival heralded a swift swing in momentum.

    Wessels smashed eight fours and five sixes before he was caught for 97 off the bowling of Usman Arshad, while James Taylor added a quick-fire 37 as Notts closed on 198-5.

    Durham's run chase never really got going, with John Hastings's 42 from 22 deliveries the only bright spot as the hosts could only muster 156-6 from their 20 overs.

  9. GLAMORGAN BEAT KENT BY ONE RUNpublished at 22:33 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Glamorgan kept their hopes of a T20 Blast quarter-final spot alive with a dramatic last-ball victory at South Group leaders Kent.

    Chasing 180 to win, Kent needed 15 off the final over, but after scoring 12 off the first four balls, Darren Stevens fell before Calum Haggett was run out while attempting to come back for a second run and to tie the game.

    Kent's innings, which ended on 178-8, was largely based around Joe Denly's 70 off 36 balls.

    Earlier Glamorgan made 179-7 thanks to Graham Wagg's unbeaten 53 off 28 balls which included five sixes.

  10. REACTION: LANCASHIRE BEAT BIRMINGHAM BY EIGHT RUNSpublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Ashley Giles speaks to the mediaImage source, @LancsCCC

    Lancashire coach Ashley Giles: "It was a brilliant win for us and a terrific performance from the boys. We need to go and win next week.

    "All credit to our guys the way they stuck at it in the field.

    "They showed no shortage of skill either, it was a real demonstration of fight right to the end."

  11. PLAYER REACTION: ESSEX BEAT MIDDLESEX BY FOUR WICKETSpublished at 22:24 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Ryan ten DoeschateImage source, Getty Images

    Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate told BBC Essex:

    "We knew how big a game this was and the team was desperate to put things right after we lost to Middlesex last week.

    "I felt there was plenty of energy from the start tonight. As it turned out with the results elsewhere it was a must win game and we've done it. It sets us up for next week against Kent.

    "Credit to the bowlers for the job they did as if we'd been chasing anything like 165 it would've been tough.

  12. REACTION: WORCESTERSHIRE QUALIFY FOR QUARTER-FINALSpublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes:

    "We're delighted with the win although we could have played better again.

    "We weren't quite on our A game tonight so once again to win when you don't quite play as well as you can do is a really good sign."

  13. REACTION: NOTTS BEAT DURHAM BY 42 RUNSpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham:

    "We played well throughout the game and improved our run rate and gave us a chance for next Friday.

    "Once we got 198, we knew the chance to win the game by a big margin would really help us.

    "I just felt that there was a big score in our team which there was and we're going to need another next week."

  14. PLAYER REACTION: SURREY BEAT SOMERSET BY 38 RUNSpublished at 22:12 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Surrey batsman Jason Roy speaking after hitting 122 against Somerset:

    "Words couldn't really describe my feelings. I went a bit crazy and it's something I've been working on.

    "It's an incredible feeling and opening up with Sanga - the wise words of that man are sensational.

    "I got lucky early on and every batsman needs a bit of luck but happy days, I'm super happy with the win."

  15. REACTION: HAMPSHIRE BEAT SUSSEX BY FOUR RUNSpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore at Hove: "404 runs in 40 huge overs of cricket tonight.

    "One of the great group games in T20 cricket history and a privilege to watch it.

    "For me, Danny Briggs going at only six-an-over where most bowlers went for nine-an-over was the difference with his class of T20 bowling."

  16. REACTION: HAMPSHIRE BEAT SUSSEX BY FOUR RUNSpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Hampshire captain James Vince told BBC Radio Solent: "It turned out to be a really good wicket and it played really well, getting even better as the night went on.

    "To hold our nerve at the end, Yasir Arafat bowled a tremendous final over, but it was a great game to play in.

    "I'm very happy we got over the line."

  17. Join the debate at #bbccricketpublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Lancashire spinner Jordan Clark on Twitter:, external OHHHHH LANKY LANKY! love the red rose, what a game what a day!

  18. IT'S GOING DOWN TO THE FINAL WEEK!published at 21:59 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Saeed AjmalImage source, Getty Images

    Worcestershire are the only side to seal qualification for the quarter-finals this week and will join Birmingham Bears and Kent in the last eight.

    Somerset and Durham are both out while Leicestershire also can't qualify now despite not playing tonight.

    In a tight North Group, Northants, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire will battle it out for the final two places.

    Only Middlesex and Somerset cannot go through in the South Group.

  19. ESSEX BEAT MIDDLESEX BY FOUR WICKETSpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    The final overs saw Essex make hard work of finishing off Middlesex, but they got there in the end.

    The damage was done for the visitors in the middle phase of the game - they didn't get enough runs in the latter stages when batting and let Essex get away quickly at the start of their reply.

    Tom Westley played an excellent hand for Essex in the closing stages, accumulating rather than blitzing his way to 45 from 38 balls before holing out with the scores tied.

    Still, he and his team-mates will be far more concerned that their quarter-final ambitions are alive and kicking.

  20. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEAT DURHAM BY 42 RUNSpublished at 21:47 British Summer Time 17 July 2015

    Notts make it three wins in a row with an easy victory over Durham who bow out of this year's T20 Blast.

    John Hastings' late 42 off 22 balls was too little too late as they could never keep up with the 10 an over required.

    Nottinghamshire's bid to reach the quarter-finals will go down to the final week when they travel to Leicestershire.