Archer on target with T20 hat-trick

Hobart Hurricanes pace ace Jofra Archer claimed a hat-trick at Lord’s overnight as his Sussex Sharks beat Middlesex in England’s domestic T20 competition.

Archer dismissed rampaging Middlesex captain Eoin Morgan for 90 in the final over to effectively seal the match, before bowling John Simpson and trapping James Fuller with a full toss to complete his hat-trick.

"It only clicked after the third wicket," Archer told Sussex after the match. "When it hit him on the shin I was like, 'I think that's three in a row.'"

Sussex won by 12 runs having posted 168 batting first, with Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar taking 3-41 from four overs for the hosts.

Nottinghamshire’s Australian captain Dan Christian turned out an all-round performance in his side’s nine-run win over Derbyshire.

Christian smacked an unbeaten 39 from 25 balls as the Outlaws posted 5-166 at Trent Bridge. Christian later claimed 1-23 with the ball as New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi snared 4-17 to restrict Derbyshire to 8-157.

In Canterbury, Marcus Stoinis won the battle of the Aussies as Kent downed Essex by 28 runs.

Stoinis made 47 from 33 balls with three sixes for the Spitfires against Australian pair Peter Siddle (0-31 from four overs) and Adam Zampa (2-31 from four).

After Kent made 4-191, Essex were bowled out for 163 from the final ball of the match – Zampa the last man to go for four.

Evergreen veteran Paul Collingwood made an unbeaten 50 as Durham posted 4-170 against Northamptonshire at the Riverside Ground.

In reply, Northants were bundled out for just 95 as South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed 4-16 from four overs.

At Leicester, Birmingham Bears prevailed by eight wickets. The visitors chased down the victory target of 144 inside 15 overs, and in a boost for England’s national team, paceman Chris Woakes captured 2-18 as he continues his comeback from a leg injury.