T20 Blast round-up: Northants maintain perfect record

ByMatthew Cresswell

BBC Sport England

Northamptonshire Steelbacks maintained their perfect record in the T20 Blast by successfully chasing down a target of 185 to beat Gloucestershire at Bristol by eight wickets and make it an incredible eight wins from eight matches in the competition.

Half-centuries by David Willey (73) and Australia opener Nathan McSweeney (72 not out) helped the visitors reach their target with 16 balls to spare, to extend their lead at the top of the Central and West Group over second-placed Gloucestershire and effectively secure a home quarter-final in the knockout stages.

Elsewhere, Lancashire Lightning picked up a third consecutive T20 Blast win in a row with a narrow four-run victory at Derbyshire Falcons as their new signing, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan, fired a half-century and took three wickets.

A wonderful third-wicket stand of 105 between Surrey's Josh Philippe and captain Ollie Pope helped the Brown Caps to a seven-run win in a run-fest at Essex.

And in cross-pool play, Warwickshire Bears continued their white-ball improvement, tasting victory over Sussex Sharks.

A wonderful second-wicket partnership of 99 between Northamptonshire's Willey and McSweeney helped the Steelbacks cruise past Gloucestershire.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Gloucestershire made a decent start to their innings and were 44-1 at the end of the powerplay.

The 38-year-old Dawid Malan - finally making his debut for Gloucestershire after signing in March - fired an unbeaten 91, which included six fours and four sixes as the hosts put on what, at the halfway stage, looked like an imposing total on a pitch that has been difficult to bat on at times this year.

However, Willey's incredible 73 off just 32 balls - which included seven sixes in an exemplary showing of power hitting - added by McSweeney's chanceless 72, as well as a good opening knock from Ricardo Vasconcelos (36 off 30) saw the visitors home at the beginning of the 18th over.

It further underlined their title credentials this season and an ability to regain a trophy, which has eluded them over the past decade.

Lancashire Lightning had to hold off a valiant fightback from Derbyshire Falcons to pick up another slender win on the road and close the gap on the top two in the North Group.

Missing batters Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, as well as seamers Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood - who were all on England duty - the Red Rose put on a total of 205 as they recovered from 41-3 when Liam Livingstone fell for just two.

But terrific knocks by Ben McDermott (68) and Shadab (58) helped them move past 200 despite their tail collapsing.

Derbyshire's run chase struggled as James Anderson took 2-19, but Falcons captain Aneurin Donald's wonderful 88 off 37 gave them a chance in the final over.

They fell four runs short, however, as last man in Akif Javed was run out on the final ball of the innings.

In the South Group, Surrey sealed their sixth T20 victory of the season, posting an imposing 240-4 in their 20 overs at Essex.

Jason Roy (65), Philippe (61 not out), and Pope (59) all rapidly fired half-centuries for Surrey as they cemented second place and closed the gap to group leaders Hampshire Hawks.

Essex opener Paul Walter crashed 78 off just 30 deliveries to give his side a chance of an unlikely run-chase, and when he was dismissed at the beginning of the ninth over, Essex were 105-3.

But Surrey's Reece Topley and Dan Lawrence (both 3-28) proved to be crucial for the visitors - and despite stunning late knocks from Essex tailenders Shane Snater (33 not out off 14) and Zaman Akhter (26 not out off 10), the home side fell seven runs short.

Warwickshire Bears picked up their third successive win, hammering Sussex Sharks by 76 runs at Edgbaston after they had started this year's competition with five straight defeats.

The Bears posted 198-3 from their 20 overs, with Australia all-rounder Beau Webster firing 60 from 42 deliveries and Sam Hain blasting an unbeaten 68 off 38 deliveries in a knock that included four sixes.

Richard Gleeson shone with the ball for the Bears, taking 4-19, including the wicket of Sussex opener Harrison Ward in the fifth over.

Sharks were all out inside the 17th over when experienced captain Tymal Mills was bowled out for two by Jordan Thompson (2-16). They remain second-bottom of the South Group.

North Group

South Group

Central & West Group

Inter-pool fixture: