McDermott monsters another Blast fifty as Aussies shine

Ben McDermott has smashed his fourth half-century of the T20 Blast season to put defending champions Hampshire Hawks in prime position for a quarter-final spot.

The Australian pinged 54 not out off 27 as Hampshire scored 2-97 in 9.2 overs before rain descended on the Rose Bowl with Glamorgan set 83 in six overs.

Colin Ingram splattered a quick-fire 34 to give the Welsh side hope but John Turner's two-run over and good defensive bowling from the Hobart Hurricanes' Nathan Ellis and James Fuller meant the Hawks restricted them to 1-54 and won by 21 runs.

Hampshire moved level with Surrey in second on 16 points to open up the possibility of a home knockout tie, and victory against Gloucestershire on Sunday would confirm their progression.

McDermott took control of the 48-run stand with James Vince with a pair of maximums to the longest boundary at midwicket and another over square leg.

The Hobart Hurricanes star, who has been overshadowed by Vince's scoring exploits, reached his half-century in 23 balls and has now hit 371 runs at a strike-rate of 144.

Birmingham Bears, meanwhile, booked a home quarter-final with a two-wicket victory over North Group rivals Notts Outlaws at a damp Trent Bridge.

The Bears were already sure of a place in the knockout stages after five straight wins but found themselves in big trouble on 4-7 chasing 169 as Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi took four wickets in the first over.

However, opener Rob Yates put together a calm 65, with Jacob Bethell and Jake Lintott both making 27, to see them home with five balls to spare.

Worcestershire's match against Durham ended in a tie on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern after bad light brought an early end at New Road.

Durham opener Graham Clark had made 78 from 47 balls with Michael Jones (39), Brydon Carse (39) and West Australian Ashton Turner (33 not out) also making useful contributions in their side's 4-216.

The Rapids were 3-112 after 11 overs, with New Zealander Mitchell Santner making a swift 42 and Adam Hose unbeaten on 16.

With a point each, Durham's quarter-final hopes are over, while the Rapids need to win at Derbyshire on Sunday to progress.

Tom Wood struck a maiden T20 century to drive Derbyshire Falcons to a 71-run win over Leicestershire Foxes which keeps their qualification hopes alive.

Wood smashed an unbeaten 110 – with 12 fours and four sixes from 57 balls – while fellow opener Harry Came made 56 as the Falcons posted 4-231, their highest T20 total.

Victorian Peter Handscomb lead the Foxes' reply with 61, but Zaman Khan took 3-27 as Leicestershire finished 160 all out.

Derbyshire now need to beat Worcestershire to have a chance of making the quarter-finals.

Tom Banton's fine 84 helped South Group leaders Somerset pull off an 18-run win over Surrey at the Oval.

Somerset made 5-208 after being put in to bat.

New Zealand duo Matt Henry (4-30) and Ish Sodhi (3-33) then helped limit Surrey to 9-190 in reply, leaving them needing to beat Essex to stay in the mix for the runners-up spot.

Ravi Bopara's fine century helped Sussex Sharks beat Kent Spitfires by 11 runs in another rain-hit match at Canterbury.

Bopara made his highest T20 score of 108 as Sussex posted a formidable 7-228.

In reply, Kent were 1-31 when heavy rain set in, and a revised DLS target was set of 129 from 10 overs.

Although Alex Blake made 30 and Jordan Cox an unbeaten 37, it always looked a tough run chase, and the hosts finished on 4-117.

Middlesex beat Essex by two wickets in a high-scoring clash at Chelmsford to dent the Eagles hopes of making the quarter-finals.

Allrounder Ryan Higgins hit a swift 61 and Martin Andersson's unbeaten 24 saw Middlesex home in the final over, despite Matt Critchley's career-best 5-28.

Essex had made 6-225, with 69 not out from Sydney Thunder's Daniel Sams, but now head to the Oval on Sunday needing victory over Surrey to stand any chance of progress.