South African batsman Cameron Delport’s brisk century carried Essex to a 52-run victory over Surrey in Chelmsford in the T20 Blast on Friday.

The rain-affected fixtures, which allowed each team only 15 overs, produced 14 sixes and seven sixes during Delport’s 49-delivery 129.

The hard-hitting left-hander reached three figures off 38 balls, and was particularly fruitful against England all-rounders Sam and Tom Curran. The latter conceded 63 runs across three expensive overs. Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir also proved costly.

The century marked the fifth of the 30-year-old Delport’s professional T20 career. He has also represented the Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, Paarl Rocks in South Africa’s Mzansi Super League, Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and several others.

On Friday Proteas all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius also hit 19 and bowled two wicketless overs in Northamptonshire’s defeat by Durham in Chester-le-Street.

Earlier this week, former Proteas captain AB de Villiers welcomed a debut for Middlesex with a characteristically brisk half-century in victory over Essex at Lord’s in London.

Pursuing a 165-run target, Middlesex triumphed with 18 deliveries to spare on the back of De Villiers’ 88 not out.

The prolific right-hander’s innings spanned a mere 43 deliveries and featured a quintet of fours and sextet of sixes.

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