The Vitality Blast 2023 has been put on a very brief pause as County Championship action returns for a round.
Following an explosive first two weeks of the t20 Blast, England's domestic t20 tournament has continued to see some excellent domestic action, with a number of crushing scores being posted.
Somerset have maintained their strong start in the South Group, despite one blip away at Hampshire. Surrey are closely behind in second, with Hampshire themselves and Essex the other two currently occupying qualification spots. Middlesex, though, are still winless through eight games.
Nottinghamshire have found form and are currently top of the North Group, though they have played a game more than their closest rivals at present. Those rivals are Birmingham Bears and Yorkshire, the latter having picked up significantly after a slow start.
Who is likely to qualify, who has an outside chance and who will have to wait until Vitality Blast 2024?
State of play in the Vitality Blast 2023 North Group
With most sides having six games remaining, the Blast group stages are essentially at the halfway mark. In the North Group, Notts have a commanding position at the top and given their quality and form, they should be able to piece together two wins from their five matches, a total that should see them through. Of course, they will be gunning for the top spot.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlso in the mix are Birmingham Bears, who also boast a strong lineup and are currently second. They have lost Moeen Ali to England Ashes duty, but still have Glenn Maxwell waiting to fully come good. Yorkshire join them on ten points, having found their feet in recent matches.
Worcestershire currently occupy the fourth and final quarter final spot in the North Group, leading a trio of sides on eight points that also includes Durham and 2022 finalists Lancashire. Derbyshire and Northamptonshire both have six points, having shown glimpses of what they can offer.
Leicestershire are the current basement side, but they too have shown that they are not incapable of making a run, though at this point it may be too little too late for them.
State of play in the Vitality Blast 2023 South Group
In the South Group, Somerset's sparkling form has them sitting pretty at the top, having won all but one of their eight matches so far. On their heels are Surrey, who have put together some astounding performances and have a side packed full of firepower and t20 experience.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe other two sides in the top four are both locked on ten points apiece, with defending champions Hampshire being joined by Essex. Sat two points behind them are Glamorgan, who themselves have had a relatively strong start to the competition so far.
Gloucestershire will feel they have an outside chance of quarter final action as they sit on six points after seven games, though they are reeling following the West Country demolition job handed to them by Somerset.
The South Group has shown to be considerably more top-heavy than the more even North Group, with Kent and Sussex languishing on just two wins each from seven and eight matches respectively.
Then there is Middlesex, who are unequivocally the whipping boys of the tournament, having lost all eight of their matches, despite coming close on a couple of occasions.
Vitality Blast 2023 results: match-by-match mini reviews
Match 42 - Birmingham Bears vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws
Notts Outlaws secured a thrilling 11-run victory over the Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast. Batting first, Notts posted a commanding total of 214 for 3, powered by Joe Clarke's unbeaten 89 and Colin Munro's quickfire 87. In response, Sam Hain's impressive unbeaten 97 wasn't enough for the Bears as they fell short at 203 for 9.
Notts' win gives them hope for a quarter-final spot, while the Bears' momentum has faltered. The match saw aggressive hitting, early wickets, and intense pressure, making it a gripping encounter in which Notts emerged victorious.
Match 43 - Hampshire vs Sussex
Ravi Bopara's late arrival and Sussex's dismal batting display led to a crushing 10-wicket defeat against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast. Sussex managed a modest total of 144 on a challenging pitch, but Hampshire, led by Ben McDermott's aggressive half-century and James Vince's unbeaten 71, comfortably chased it down with 31 balls to spare.
Vince's sublime form continued, heading to the top spot in the Blast run-scoring table in the process. Sussex suffered from three run-outs and struggled to build partnerships. Bopara's absence and the team's poor shot selection added to their woes, leaving them near the bottom of the table.
Match 44 - Yorkshire vs Derbyshire
Derbyshire's Wayne Madsen narrowly missed out on making history by scoring six consecutive fifties in T20 cricket as his team suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast. Yorkshire's Dawid Malan played a starring role in the chase, scoring an impressive unbeaten 81 off 57 balls to guide his team to victory with 10 balls remaining.
Madsen contributed 44 runs off 26 balls for Derbyshire, but his dismissal, along with Haider Ali's, halted their momentum after a strong start. Yorkshire's win marked their third consecutive victory in the North Group, maintaining their recent resurgence.
Match 45 - Gloucestershire vs Middlesex
Oliver Price starred with bat and ball as Gloucestershire secured a convincing seven-wicket win over Middlesex in the Vitality Blast. Price top-scored with 46 and formed crucial partnerships with Miles Hammond and Zafar Gohar. Middlesex struggled to build partnerships and could only manage 139-9.
Gloucestershire chased down the target comfortably with ten balls to spare, registering their second win in three days. The victory keeps Gloucestershire's hopes alive for the knockout stages, while Middlesex, already out of contention, suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.
Match 46 - Durham vs Leicestershire
Leicestershire Foxes snapped their five-game losing streak in the Vitality Blast with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Durham. Josh Hull starred with the ball, taking three wickets to restrict Durham to 168-9. Ollie Robinson top-scored for Durham with an unbeaten 69, but it wasn't enough.
In the chase, Nick Welch and Lewis Hill provided a solid start, and despite some hiccups, Louis Kimber's unbeaten 55 off 27 balls guided Leicestershire to victory with 12 balls to spare. The win marked Leicestershire's first in the campaign, while Durham suffered another defeat.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 47 - Sussex vs Glamorgan
Glamorgan secured their fourth win in the Vitality Blast, defeating Sussex Sharks by 32 runs. Colin Ingram (48) and Chris Cooke (50) continued their impressive form with the bat, propelling Glamorgan to a formidable total. Sussex, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat, with their bowling letting them down this time.
Chasing a target of 220, Sussex struggled and never posed a serious threat. Tom Alsop's valiant 58 was in vain as wickets fell around him. Glamorgan capitalized on a flat pitch and wayward bowling to post a commanding score. Despite some late hitting from Nathan McAndrew, Sussex fell short of the target.
Match 48 - Somerset vs Essex
Somerset continued their winning streak in the Vitality Blast, securing their sixth consecutive victory against Essex. Despite a low-scoring contest, Somerset emerged triumphant, maintaining their unbeaten record. Michael Pepper's brisk innings of 63 provided some resistance for Essex, but Somerset's disciplined bowling, led by Matt Henry and Ben Green, restricted their opponents.
Embed from Getty ImagesDaniel Sams' impressive 4-20 couldn't prevent Somerset from clawing their way back into the game. Somerset's Sean Dickson made a valuable contribution with 42 runs, but it was Sams' bowling that kept Somerset's total in check. Somerset's winning start to the season has established them as strong contenders in the South Group.
Match 49 - Kent vs Surrey
Surrey clinched a thrilling last-ball victory against Kent Spitfires in a nerve-wracking run chase at Canterbury. Chasing a target of 173, Surrey found themselves nine runs short with one over remaining. However, Jamie Smith's boundary on the final delivery tied the scores, as the Kent fielder failed to hold onto a tough chance.
Surrey secured a five-wicket win, with Smith unbeaten on 49. Laurie Evans contributed 52 earlier in the innings. Will Jacks' three wickets restricted Kent to 173. The victory propelled Surrey to the second spot in the South Group, while Kent desperately needed a change in fortunes.
Match 50 - Worcestershire vs Northamptonshire
Worcestershire Rapids' unbeaten streak in the Vitality Blast came to an end as they were defeated by Northamptonshire Steelbacks by six wickets at New Road. The Rapids had hoped to achieve a historic five consecutive wins in the Blast, but spinner Freddie Heldreich turned the tide with three key wickets.
Saif Zaib then provided a match-winning performance, smashing consecutive sixes in the final over to secure victory for the Steelbacks. Despite contributions from D'Oliveira, Haynes, and Santner, the Rapids' total was surpassed by Zaib's unbeaten 70 off 35 balls. The Steelbacks claimed their third win in four games.
Match 51 - Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire
Nottinghamshire Outlaws secured their second consecutive victory in the Vitality Blast, defeating Lancashire Lightning by five wickets at Trent Bridge. Matt Carter, who had a tough outing in the previous game, bounced back with 3-26 as Lightning were bowled out for 145. Liam Livingstone top-scored with 34 for Lancashire.
In response, Joe Clarke led the Outlaws' charge with a quickfire 42, and Tom Moores guided them home with an unbeaten 26. The Outlaws' win put them back on track for the quarter-finals, while Lancashire suffered their fourth consecutive defeat. Carter attributed the team's turnaround to self-belief and executing their plans effectively.
Match 52 - Middlesex vs Hampshire
Hampshire's John Turner had an impressive debut in the Vitality Blast, taking three wickets as the defending champions secured their third consecutive win against Middlesex at Radlett. Turner dismissed Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi with his first ball, finishing with figures of 3-30.
Embed from Getty ImagesMax Holden's half-century had given Middlesex hope, but Hampshire's death bowlers held their nerve to ensure victory. Hampshire skipper James Vince failed to make an impact this time, but Ben McDermott and Chris Wood played crucial knocks to lift the team's total. Despite a late flourish by Middlesex, the target proved too steep as Hampshire emerged victorious.
Match 53 - Leicestershire vs Yorkshire
Yorkshire Vikings continued their impressive turnaround in the Vitality Blast as they secured their fourth consecutive win, defeating Leicestershire Foxes by 30 runs. After opting to bat first, the Vikings recovered from a precarious position of 78-7 on a challenging pitch to reach a total of 156.
David Wiese remained unbeaten on 50 from 32 balls, while Ben Mike contributed 30 from 17 balls to establish a new Vikings record partnership of 78 for the eighth wicket. Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull impressed with the ball for Leicestershire, both picking up crucial wickets.
In response, Leicestershire struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for 126. Wiaan Mulder top-scored with 46, but the Foxes couldn't sustain momentum. Jordan Thompson was the pick of the bowlers for Yorkshire, claiming a career-best 5-21.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 54 - Durham vs Northamptonshire
Nathan Sowter and Graham Clark once again played pivotal roles in guiding Durham to a four-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast.
Sowter, who had previously taken 5-15 against the Steelbacks, delivered another outstanding performance with figures of 4-14, restricting the visitors to 161-7 in their 20 overs. Despite Emilio Gay's career-best score of 53, Northamptonshire struggled to build partnerships.
In response, Clark set the foundation for Durham's chase with a commanding knock of 55. Although Freddie Heldreich's three wickets posed a threat, Durham held their nerve and secured their fourth win of the season. The victory strengthened their chances of securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 55 - Essex vs Sussex
Michael Pepper's impressive form in the Vitality Blast continued as he scored 48, while Sam Cook's four-wicket haul helped Essex secure a five-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks. Despite Ravi Bopara's half-century, Sussex could only manage a total of 147, thanks to Cook's exceptional bowling.
In the chase, Pepper and Adam Rossington built a strong partnership of 76 for the second wicket, setting the foundation for Essex's successful chase. Matt Critchley and Daniel Sams finished the job with 31 balls to spare, sealing Essex's third win in five matches. This defeat marked the fourth consecutive loss for Sussex in the tournament.
Match 56 - Lancashire vs Worcestershire
Jos Buttler's 58 off 42 balls played a crucial role in Lancashire Lightning's much-needed victory over Worcestershire Rapids in the Vitality Blast. Chasing a target of 178, Buttler's innings included five fours and three sixes, providing the necessary momentum.
Despite a stumble in the middle overs when Buttler and Steven Croft (40) fell in quick succession, Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 33 off 14 balls ensured Lancashire's win with four wickets in hand.
Earlier, Worcestershire had posted 177-9, with Adam Hose (42) and Mitchell Santner (57) as the main contributors. This victory ended Lancashire's four-game losing streak and provided a boost to their campaign.
Match 57 - Glamorgan vs Surrey
Laurie Evans and his Surrey teammates delivered a record-breaking batting performance, leading to a convincing 65-run victory over Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast. Opting to bat first, Surrey got off to an electrifying start with an opening partnership of 115 between Evans and Will Jacks.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam Curran took charge after Jacks' dismissal and unleashed a flurry of boundary-smashing shots, including three consecutive sixes in one over. Evans capitalised on a dropped catch and went on to score an unbeaten 118 off 60 balls, his maiden century for Surrey.
In response, Glamorgan struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually reaching 171-8, with Sam Northeast's 76 being their only noteworthy contribution.
Match 58 - Kent vs Essex
Essex emerged victorious against the Kent Spitfires in the Vitality Blast, securing a four-wicket win with a remarkable hat-trick from Sam Cook.
Embed from Getty ImagesKent's decision to bat backfired as they stumbled to 31-4 within five overs, with Cook wreaking havoc. Despite Joe Denly's 39 and Grant Stewart's quickfire 37, Kent could only manage 150-8.
In response, Essex overcame their early struggles, thanks to a composed unbeaten knock of 63 by Matt Critchley. With ten balls to spare, Critchley guided Essex to victory and kept them in the race for Finals Day, while Kent's chances of qualifying appear bleak following their fifth consecutive defeat.
Match 59 - Birmingham Bears vs Derbyshire
Derbyshire Falcons secured a thrilling six-wicket victory over the Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast, courtesy of an outstanding display by captain Leus du Plooy. After the Bears posted a challenging total of 203-7, du Plooy unleashed a breathtaking unbeaten 66 off just 25 balls, guiding his team to the target with three balls to spare.
Sam Hain's unbeaten 79 from 36 deliveries in the Bears' innings was overshadowed by du Plooy's masterclass. With Chris Woakes conceding 51 runs in his four overs, the Falcons completed a quickfire double over the Bears, inflicting the home side's third consecutive defeat.
Match 60 - Hampshire vs Somerset
Nathan Ellis delivered a brilliant performance in the death overs, leading Hampshire Hawks to a thrilling five-run victory over Somerset in the Vitality Blast. Somerset's unbeaten streak came to an end as Ellis conceded only three and four runs in the 17th and 19th overs, respectively, finishing with figures of 1-26.
James Vince and Joe Weatherley had earlier propelled Hampshire to a competitive total with their contributions. Somerset's Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore fought valiantly in the chase, but Ellis' superb bowling and Scott Currie's tight final over ensured victory for Hampshire. The win extended Hampshire's winning streak to four matches.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 61 - Middlesex vs Sussex
Despite Stephen Eskinazi's impressive knock of 94, Middlesex suffered their eighth consecutive defeat in the Vitality Blast, losing by four runs to Sussex at Lord's. Eskinazi valiantly batted throughout the chase, but Middlesex required a six off the final ball from Tymal Mills, which Eskinazi failed to connect.
This loss set a new record of 12 consecutive defeats in t20 matches for Middlesex. Sussex, on the other hand, secured only their second victory of the campaign, largely thanks to Shadab Khan's quickfire 59 off 30 balls, accompanied by a record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership of 91 with captain Ravi Bopara.
Luke Hollman and Ryan Higgins were the standout bowlers for Middlesex, claiming two wickets each. Despite a strong start in the powerplay, Middlesex struggled to maintain momentum, and Sussex's formidable total proved too much to chase down, ultimately leading to Middlesex's unfortunate record-setting defeat.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 62 - Nottinghamshire vs Durham
Notts Outlaws claimed a 26-run victory over Durham in the Vitality Blast, taking temporary possession of the top spot in the tightly contested North Group. Bas de Leede's impressive 58 off 41 balls couldn't save Durham, as Samit Patel (3-30), Jake Ball (3-38), and Matt Carter (2-25) led a strong bowling display.
Colin Munro and Alex Hales set the foundation with an 82-run partnership, while middle-order contributions from Patel and Steven Mullaney propelled Notts to 187-7. Durham struggled in their chase, losing wickets at regular intervals and falling short despite de Leede's efforts. Notts' win extended Durham's losing streak against the Outlaws in the Blast to eight consecutive matches.
Match 63 - Yorkshire vs Worcestershire
Yorkshire Vikings clinched a commanding 26-run victory over Worcestershire Rapids in a high-scoring Vitality Blast match at Headingley. James Wharton and Dawid Malan set a new Yorkshire record with their outstanding 159-run partnership for the second wicket, with Wharton smashing an unbeaten 111 off 56 balls and Malan contributing a superb 79 off 48 deliveries.
Yorkshire posted an imposing total of 224-4. Worcestershire Rapids put up a spirited fight, but their response of 198-6 fell short. Jordan Thompson's impressive bowling figures of 4-34 and Kashif Ali's unbeaten 48 were notable performances. Yorkshire boast five consecutive Blast victories, while Worcestershire have won four and lost three.
Match 64 - Glamorgan vs Essex
Essex secured a 51-run victory over Glamorgan in their Vitality Blast encounter in Cardiff, thanks to a career-best knock of 78 from Paul Walter. Essex posted an impressive total of 226-9, the second-highest score ever recorded at Sophia Gardens. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Essex maintained their attacking approach throughout the innings.
Glamorgan started their chase strongly but faltered in their pursuit of the target. Colin Ingram top-scored with 48, but no Glamorgan batsman reached a half-century as they were bowled out for 175. This loss marks Glamorgan's second consecutive home defeat, while Essex moved ahead of them in the standings with five wins and two losses.
Match 65 - Derbyshire vs Nottinghamshire
In a tightly contested Vitality Blast match at Derby, Notts Outlaws emerged victorious with a three-wicket win over the Derbyshire Falcons. Despite the Falcons setting a modest target of 142-6, the Outlaws had to work hard for the victory.
Shaheen Shah Afridi played a crucial role, smashing two sixes to guide his team home with eight balls remaining. Haider Ali's knock of 42 off 37 balls provided some resistance for the Falcons, but the Outlaws bowled well, with Jake Ball taking 2-23 and Shaheen claiming 2-37.
George Scrimshaw's impressive bowling spell of 3-16 put the Outlaws in a tricky situation at 103-5, but they maintained their composure to secure the win. With this result, the Outlaws maintained their position at the top of the North Group and extended their unbeaten streak against the Falcons in T20 matches since 2015.
Match 66 - Gloucestershire vs Somerset
Somerset secured a commanding 80-run victory over West Country rivals Gloucestershire in a Vitality Blast match at the Seat Unique Stadium. Will Smeed's explosive innings of 94 runs off just 35 balls propelled Somerset to their highest-ever total against Gloucestershire, reaching 231-4.
Smeed's partnership of 122 in ten overs with Tom Banton set the tone for Somerset's dominance, with the former hitting eight sixes and eight fours. In pursuit of the massive target, Gloucestershire struggled and were bowled out for 151 in 19 overs.
Miles Hammond's resilient knock of 61 and his partnership of 75 with Ben Charlesworth were the only highlights for the home team. Roelof van der Merwe and Josh Davey claimed three wickets each, while Shoaib Bashir contributed with three wickets as well, causing Gloucestershire to collapse in their chase.
Somerset's victory, their seventh in eight matches in the South Group, maintained their position at the top of the table, while Gloucestershire will need to make up ground to contend for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 67 - Kent vs Hampshire
Kent faced Hampshire at the Spitfire Ground, hoping to end their losing streak. James Vince's golden duck gave Kent an early advantage, and they capitalised on it by successfully chasing down a target of 177 runs with three balls to spare.
Daniel Bell-Drummond's brilliant 89 off 55 deliveries set the foundation for Kent's run chase, and Sam Billings and Jack Leaning played crucial roles in securing the victory. Hampshire, despite a strong partnership between Ben McDermott and Joe Weatherley, faltered in the later stages of their innings and failed to post a commanding total.
Kent's openers provided a solid start, and Bell-Drummond's aggressive batting propelled the team towards victory. Kent held their nerve in the closing stages and sealed their first win in six matches, while handing Hampshire their first loss in the tournament in as many matches.
Match 68 - Leicestershire vs Durham
Rishi Patel's maiden t20 century powered Leicestershire Foxes to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Durham in the Vitality Blast. Patel's unbeaten 103 off 49 balls, supported by Lewis Hill's unbeaten 54, led the Foxes to chase down the target of 172 with 14 balls to spare. Durham's Ashton Turner scored 60 not out to set a challenging total, but Leicestershire's bowlers restricted them from dominating.
Despite their victory, the Foxes remain at the bottom of the North Group table. The match saw impressive performances from Matt Salisbury and Tom Scriven, making their county Blast debuts, and Callum Parkinson, who claimed his 100th Blast wicket for Leicestershire.
Match 69 - Birmingham Bears vs Northamptonshire
Birmingham Bears secured a 30-run victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in a low-scoring Vitality Blast match at Edgbaston. Opting to bat first, the Bears were bowled out for 137, with Freddie Heldreich taking a career-best 4-27 for the Steelbacks. Sam Hain and Alex Davies were the only batsmen to contribute significantly for the Bears.
In response, the Steelbacks struggled against the Bears' spinners, managing only 107-9 in their allotted 20 overs. Dan Mousley and Moeen Ali took three wickets each to secure the win for the Bears. The victory marked the Bears' first win in four attempts under the captaincy of Moeen Ali, who will now join England's squad for the Ashes opener.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatch 70 - Sussex vs Surrey
Surrey dominated the match against Sussex Sharks, posting a massive total of 258-6, the highest score in their Vitality Blast history. Laurie Evans (93) and Sam Curran (68) led the charge with a destructive second-wicket partnership of 157.
Surrey, one of the top teams in the competition, have lost only twice in eight matches. Sussex, coming off a thrilling victory, needed a win to keep their hopes alive but faltered early in their chase. Despite a promising start, they lost wickets regularly and were eventually bowled out for 134 in the 15th over.
Tom Clark top-scored with 43, but their efforts fell well short of the required run rate. Surrey's dominant performance secured them a resounding 124-run victory at Hove.
Comments
Post a Comment