Yorkshire Win Big, Somerset Upset Northants in Vitality Blast T20 Action

Adam Lyth's unbeaten 131 leads Yorkshire to a 41-run win over Leicestershire. Somerset spinners dismantle Northamptonshire, while Hampshire and Middlesex secure key victories in Vitality Blast T20.

Adam Lyth's Century Powers Yorkshire to Victory

Veteran opener Adam Lyth delivered an unbeaten 131 off 63 balls, marking the highest individual score in this year's Vitality Blast, as Yorkshire secured a 41-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Headingley. This innings was Lyth's second T20 century and his first since 2017, helping Yorkshire move closer to a quarter-final berth in the North Group. Despite their win, Yorkshire remain second behind Notts Outlaws, who achieved their sixth consecutive victory by narrowly defeating Durham by two runs.

North Group: Tye and Hassan Key in Yorkshire's Win

Lyth and Jonny Bairstow established a solid foundation for Yorkshire with an opening partnership of 91 runs before Bairstow was dismissed leg before by England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who took 3-33. Lyth continued to dominate, reaching his century off 55 balls with a straight six off Ben Green and adding 24 runs in the final over bowled by Josh Hull, finishing Yorkshire's innings at 207-4.

Rishi Patel provided a rapid start for Leicestershire, scoring 34 from 14 balls, but the Foxes lost four wickets for just nine runs, three of which fell to AJ Tye, who recorded figures of 4-15, his best performance in the tournament so far. Despite a resilient 47 from 34 balls by Ben Cox, Leicestershire were bowled out for 166-9 as Hassan Ali took 4-25 to seal the victory for Yorkshire.

Yorkshire bowler AJ Tye in action — Image caption, AJ Tye's figures of 4-15 were the Yorkshire seamer's best of the tournament so far

Notts Outlaws appeared strong at 88-1 against Durham, with captain Joe Clarke scoring 56 from 35 balls, his first half-century of the tournament. However, spinner Callum Parkinson dismissed Tom Moores and Clarke in the same over, slowing the innings. Matthew Potts claimed three wickets for 32 runs, including a run-out, as Notts were restricted to 166-8. Durham's opening pair, Graham Clark and Alex Lees, put on 64 runs, but spin bowlers Liam Patterson-White (2-7) and George Linde (2-19) turned the game in Notts' favour. With 12 runs needed in the final over, David Bedingham and Kasey Aldridge managed only nine, resulting in a narrow win for Notts.

Central & West Group: Somerset Spinners Dismantle Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire Steelbacks' unbeaten streak ended with a 105-run home defeat to defending champions Somerset. Somerset's openers Thomas Rew, who scored his maiden T20 half-century with 57 from 30 balls, and Will Smeed compiled a swift 104-run partnership. Daniel Sams contributed an unbeaten 48 from 16 balls, pushing Somerset to a formidable total of 223-4.

The Steelbacks started their chase well at 65-1, but Lewis Goldsworthy took three wickets in a single over, disrupting their momentum. Josh Thomas then delivered a career-best bowling performance of 4-6 in three overs, leading Somerset to bowl Northamptonshire out for 118.

Somerset's Josh Thomas (right) celebrates a wicket with team-mate James Rew at Wantage Road — Image caption, Josh Thomas (right) demolished Northamptonshire's batting with figures of 4-6

At Cardiff, Worcestershire Rapids posted 161-9, with Gareth Roderick top-scoring with 71 from 43 balls. Glamorgan's spinners Ben Kellaway (3-24) and Mason Crane (2-24) initially put the Rapids under pressure. However, Worcestershire's spin attack, featuring Usama Mir (2-17) and Fateh Singh (3-17), maintained control. Beyers Swanepoel took 3-36, but Glamorgan were dismissed for 146 despite Kellaway's 43 from 26 balls.

Warwickshire Bears secured a 30-run victory over Gloucestershire at Edgbaston. All-rounder Beau Webster, the Blast's leading run-scorer, scored 78 from 44 balls, supported by Dan Mousley’s unbeaten 72, which included six sixes. Warwickshire posted 203-5, and Gloucestershire were restricted to 173-6, with spinner Usman Tariq taking 3-12.

South Group: Hampshire and Middlesex Claim Key Wins

Hampshire Hawks maintained their strong position atop the South Group with a 19-run win over Kent Spitfires. Captain James Vince scored 63 from 40 balls, sharing a century opening partnership with Joe Weatherley, who remained unbeaten on 61. Tristan Stubbs added a quick 41 as Hampshire finished on 190-3.

Kent's reply began aggressively, with Tawanda Muyeye scoring 50 from 30 balls and Zak Crawley hitting three sixes in his 33 from 17 balls, reducing the target by 82 runs in just 7.1 overs. However, Hampshire's bowlers fought back, with Scott Currie taking 3-30 and England paceman Sonny Baker capturing four wickets, including two in consecutive balls in the final over, to bowl Kent out for 171.

Hampshire captain James Vince plays a shot — Image caption, James Vince's half-century helped to set up Hampshire's seventh win in nine Blast games

Middlesex ended a five-match losing streak with a four-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford. Essex were reduced to 69-8, with Naavya Sharma dismissing both openers and leg-spinner Luke Hollman taking 4-21. Simon Harmer's maiden T20 half-century of 56 not out from 28 balls helped Essex recover to 142-8, sharing a 73-run partnership with Mackenzie Jones (19 not out). Harmer also took 2-15 with the ball, putting Middlesex under pressure at 74-5.

Leus du Plooy (38) and Joe Cracknell (35) steadied Middlesex’s innings, and Hollman’s unbeaten 32 from 27 balls guided them to victory with six balls remaining, lifting Middlesex off the bottom of the table.