Tuesday 1 August 2017 17:14, UK
Captain Sam Northeast’s half-century helped Kent to a seven-wicket victory (DLS) over Somerset in a rain-affected NatWest T20 Blast clash at Canterbury.
Northeast finished unbeaten on 54 (off 27 balls) as the hosts reached their DLS revised target of 181 in 16.3 overs.
Fifties from Johann Myburgh (64 off 35 balls) and Steven Davies (62 off 32 balls) had helped Somerset post a seemingly commanding total of 197-6 but within six overs of the chase, it was looking insufficient.
Kent openers Joe Denly (46 off 24 balls) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (39 off 26 balls) got their side off to a flyer and reached 77 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
However, at that stage the rain came down and delayed proceedings. When play restarted only two overs had been lost but Kent's momentum seemed to have gone with them, Max Waller dismissing both openers in the space of two overs.
Northeast and Alex Blake (20) got Kent back on track though and Sam Billings (14no) joined his captain late on to finish the job.
Elsewhere, Brendon McCullum 19-ball half-century set Middlesex on their way to a 72-run win over Essex at Lord's.
The Kiwi opener was eventually dismissed for 63 (off 28 balls) while John Simpson hit 51 from 36 balls as the hosts closed on 203-6.
Dan Lawrence was the pick of the Essex bowlers taking 3-21 and his wicket proved the key one in the chase. Tim Southee had dismissed Adam Wheater in the first over but Lawrence came in and started quickly.
However, he fell for 29 (off 16 balls) and Middlesex soon reduced the Eagles to 62-6. James Foster gave Essex a glimmer of hope with a quick-fire 50 from 25 balls but when Tom Helm returned to take three wickets in an over, including that of Foster, the game was up.
Helm finished the job in his next over, bowling Matt Dixon, to end with mightily impressive figures of 5-11.
In the North Group, defending champions Northamptonshire Steelbacks eased to victory over Worcestershire Rapids by seven wickets at Wantage Road.
Richard Gleeson did the damage early on, taking three quick wickets to leave the Rapids 28-3 and although a 47-run partnership between Mitchell Santner (37 off 27 balls) and Brett D'Oliveira (52 off 31 balls) bolstered the total, Rory Kleinveldt's 3-25 saw them bowled out for 158 from the last ball of the innings.
In reply, Richard Levi (47 off 31 balls) and Adam Rossington (42 off 20 balls) put on 83 for the first wicket and after a mid-innings wobble, Alex Wakely (46no off 28 balls) and Richard Keogh (22no off 24 balls) saw the Steelbacks home with 14 balls to spare.
The win takes Northants up to second in the North Group table, just a point behind leaders Yorkshire.
