Ben McDermott smacks fourth Blast 50 for Hampshire

Ben McDermott smacks fourth Blast 50 for Hampshire

Ben McDermott has smashed his fourth 50 of the Vitality Blast season to place defending champions Hampshire Hawks in prime place for a quarter-final spot.

The Australian pinged 54 off 27 as Hampshire scored 2-97 in 9.2 overs earlier than rain descended on the Ageas Bowl with Glamorgan set 83 in six overs.

Colin Ingram splattered a quick-fire 34 to present the Welsh facet hope however 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 received by 21 runs.

Hampshire moved degree with Surrey in second on 16 factors to open up the opportunity of a house knockout tie, and victory in opposition to Gloucestershire on Sunday would verify their development.

McDermott took management of the 48-run stand with James Vince with a pair of maximums to the longest boundary at midwicket and one other over sq. 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, in the meantime, booked a house quarter-final with a two-wicket victory over North Group rivals Notts Outlaws at a moist Trent Bridge.

The Bears have been already certain of a spot within the knockout levels after 5 straight wins, however discovered themselves in massive hassle on 4-7 chasing 169 as Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi took 4 wickets within the first over.

However, opener Rob Yates put collectively a relaxed 65, with Jacob Bethell and Jake Lintott each making 27, to see them house with 5 balls to spare.

Worcestershire’s match in opposition to Durham led to a tie on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern after dangerous mild introduced an early finish 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) additionally making helpful contributions of their facet’s 4-216.

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

With a degree every, Durham’s quarter-final hopes are over, whereas the Rapids must 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 retains their qualification hopes alive.

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

Victorian Peter Handscomb lead the Foxes’ reply with 61, however Zaman Khan took 3-27 as Leicestershire completed 160 all out.

Derbyshire now must beat Worcestershire to have an opportunity of constructing the quarter-finals.

Tom Banton’s fantastic 84 helped South Group leaders Somerset pull off an 18-run win over Surrey on 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 restrict Surrey to 9-190 in reply, leaving them needing to beat Essex to remain within the combine for the runners-up spot.

Ravi Bopara’s fantastic century helped Sussex Sharks beat Kent Spitfires by 11 runs in one other rain-hit match at Canterbury.

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

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

Although Alex Blake made 30 and Jordan Cox an unbeaten 37, it at all times regarded a tricky run chase, and the hosts completed on 4-117.

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

All-rounder Ryan Higgins hit a swift 61 and Martin Andersson’s unbeaten 24 noticed Middlesex house within the closing over, regardless of Matt Critchley’s career-best 5-28.

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

Source: www.perthnow.com.au