Blast holders Somerset beat South Group Surrey to boost quarter-final hopes

Tom Kohler-Cadmore gave Somerset’s hopes of progression in the Vitality Blast a shot in the arm with a fifty that underpinned a six-wicket win over South Group leaders Surrey.

Kohler-Cadmore’s 51 off 32 balls allied to debutant George Thomas’ 40 off 25 deliveries helped holders Somerset chase down a target of 183 with an over to spare at Taunton, boosting their hopes of a top-four finish.

Surrey had earlier stumbled to 24 for three but Sam Curran, back in county action after being on England duty at last month’s T20 World Cup, made a punchy 59 off 42 balls in a 107-run stand with Rory Burns, who top-scored with 62 off 44.

Curran played as a specialist batter, as did Jamie Overton on his return from his latest back injury which ruled him out of the T20 World Cup. The former Somerset all-rounder clubbed 30 not out off 13 deliveries to lift Surrey to 182 for five.

Benny Howell’s four off the final ball capped a thrilling victory for Hampshire, who kept their bid to reach the quarter-finals alive by edging out Gloucestershire at the Utilita Bowl.

Hampshire needed 54 off the last four overs but Howell’s blitz of 62 not out off 27 against his former club, allied with 20 off nine from James Fuller, lifted them to their 177-run victory target. Brad Wheal had earlier taken four for 35 in Gloucestershire’s 176 for nine.

Tom Alsop’s 87 not out off 41 helped Sussex record a crushing 88-run win over Kent at Canterbury to move level on 16 points with Surrey at the top of the South Group.

Alsop’s brutal innings, plus an unbeaten 53 off 39 from John Simpson, carried Sussex to 203 for four before Kent were all out for 115 in 16.2 overs. James Coles took outstanding figures of 4-1-12-4.

Middlesex claimed a six-wicket victory over Glamorgan in Cardiff in a contest shortened to 10 overs each because of rain.

Luke Hollman took a brace of wickets in each of his two overs, finishing with four for 13, as Glamorgan stumbled to 88 for nine, with Middlesex knocking off the runs with three balls to spare.

In the North Group, the eagerly-anticipated Roses derby between Lancashire and Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford was rained off for a second successive year.

At Edgbaston, Matthew Waite followed up a stunning 36 not out off eight balls with four for 29 as Worcestershire beat neighbours and group rivals Birmingham Bears by 55 runs in a contest reduced to 17 overs a side.

Waite took a jaw-dropping 34 off the last over as George Garton was carted for five sixes and a four to turbocharge Worcestershire’s total to 187 for six. Waite then bowled Bears captain Moeen Ali and dangerman Sam Hain as the hosts were all out for 132 in 15.2 overs.

Callum Parkinson took three for 15 as Durham claimed a 30-run win over rock-bottom Nottinghamshire, who were restricted to 130 for nine at Chester-le-Street in response to 160 for six.

Jimmy Neesham’s 67 off 34 ushered Leicestershire to a 184-run target with three wickets and five balls to spare against Northamptonshire at Grace Road as the Foxes enhanced their quarter-final hopes.