David Willey led Northamptonshire to a thrilling victory against Durham at Chester-le-Street, maintaining their unbeaten record in the T20 Blast. The Steelbacks now sit atop the Central and West Group with five wins from five matches, showcasing their depth and resilience.
Steelbacks' Record Still Stainless
It was pleasing to hear Emilio Gay use his TV interview after a strong Test debut against New Zealand to highlight how two Northamptonshire lads, Ben Duckett and himself, opened together for England at Lord's. Both started their careers at Wantage Road. If they still follow Northants' results, they would have seen five wins from five in the T20 Blast, enough to top the group.
That record looked in danger at Chester-le-Street after losing both Australian batters, Chris Lynn and Nathan McSweeney, for just three runs. With no partnership reaching 50, Durham were favorites at the halfway mark. However, David Willey and Ben Sanderson, as canny as they come in the powerplay, did not panic. The match turned on the overs delivered by the fifth bowler, with Willey turning to Saif Zaib and James Sales. The two batting all-rounders combined for figures of 4-0-26-3, and Northamptonshire enjoyed their long trip home with another four points in the bank.
Taylor Cuts His Cloth to Bowl Out Worcestershire
Gloucestershire sit second in the table, also on 20 points but having played one more game. Jack Taylor's team won a tight contest at home to Worcestershire, completing a hat-trick of victories. Defending a target of 149 requires wickets, and Taylor knows he has howitzers he can unleash. Marchant de Lange, listed at 6ft 7in, and Duan Jansen, an inch taller, used their height and pace to claim six wickets from the visitors' lineup, leaving them a boundary short and all out in the final over.
No doubt some older members at Bristol recall with a touch of sadness another hostile South African quick who hit the ball hard for Gloucestershire. Somewhere, Mike Procter was likely looking on approvingly, shirt unbuttoned to the navel.
Dawson Flying High with the Hawks
Hampshire Hawks have opened an eight-point gap at the top of the South Group, with five wins, two more than their nearest rivals. Liam Dawson shone in their victory over Sussex, who started the season quickly but may be fading. Dawson, who unexpectedly packed in red-ball cricket last month, made 52 and then took 3 for 20 in his full allocation to continue his excellent form. He now has 138 runs in the Blast at an average pushing 50 and a strike rate above 150.
The 36-year-old's decision to step aside from the longer format not only gives younger players a chance but also provides a better work-life balance, potentially adding years to his career.
Get a Grip, Please
Three consecutive wins have ignited Essex's campaign, lifting them to second in the South Group. After Charlie Allison and Luc Benkenstein dominated the first innings, putting on 133 in 16 overs, Simon Harmer's attack set about a Middlesex team low on confidence. Harmer was the only bowler not to cash in as a procession of batters came and went, with resistance feeble and the home side all out in less than 18 overs.
Middlesex are rock-bottom of the group after five defeats. With Sussex and Lancashire also in various states of disarray, that makes a sixth of counties in trouble. Domestic cricket cannot afford this, and its governance should be robust enough to avoid such situations.
Rehan Reins Them In
Having dispatched a miserable Lancashire back down the M62 to make it four wins out of five, Yorkshire could have opened a 12-point gap in the North Group over third-place Leicestershire with a win at Grace Road. But that thinking can backfire in any sport, especially T20 cricket. However, Rehan Ahmed is expected to have an impact in any match, being as three-dimensional a cricketer as one finds in the English game, a quality that possibly works against him representing his country.
Opening, he missed out with a duck as the home side limped to 147 for 8, Nick Kelly top-scoring with 44. With Jonny Bairstow teeing off, Yorkshire were going at 11 an over in the powerplay, but Ahmed caught Adam Lyth and then punctured the middle order with a four-wicket hole, three his own and one a run out. Yorkshire still top the group, but they could have had one foot in the quarter-finals at the halfway mark without Ahmed's intervention. The 21-year-old is surely too good to be bouncing between carrying drinks, the Lions, county cricket, and franchise competitions.
Lancashire's Problems Illuminated at Blackpool
Not so long ago, Lancashire considered adopting a subscription model for their YouTube channel before somebody asked the suit proposing it if he had seen the team play recently. Despite the difficulties of providing live coverage from an outground (a chilly and windswept Stanley Park in Blackpool), the feed was shambolic, with only commentator Scott Read and colleagues' good humor and patience holding the show together.
Those familiar with Lancashire's form would not have awarded the visitors the win prematurely, even if they needed 41 off 11 balls with eight wickets down. Chris Cooke and Timm van der Gugten have seen most things before and played well, but still, how can you lose from there? Spare a thought for Liam Livingstone. He made 81 off 37 balls and took 3-13 off his four overs. His colleagues mustered 111 off 13.5 overs and took 4-186 off their 16. Lancashire were weakened by injuries but still had six internationals on the field. Not good enough, I'm afraid, again.
