Prince and Peterson helped secure quarter-final births for their counties during Friday’s round of T20 Blast fixtures, reports Gareth Stevens.
Lancashire eased to a 35-run win over Derbyshire at Old Trafford. The hosts piled on 225-7, with Ashwell Prince slapping 56 off just 29 balls at the top of the order. In reply, Wayne Madsen‘s 45 off 25 balls showed some fight, but Derbyshire never posed a serious threat to the imposing target.
The comfortable victory secured home ground advantage for the quarter-finals in the format that Lancashire have dominated this season. They are out of the running in the County Championship and will therefore target the T20 Blast as their opportunity to win some silverware.
Elsewhere, Robin Peterson scored 23 not out and took 1-28 in 3 overs to help Surrey to a 5 run win over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. The victory ensured Surrey’s place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
A quickfire 51 from New Zealand’s Jessie Ryder helped Essex beat Glamorgan by 7 wickets in Cardiff, despite an unbeaten 60 from Jacques Rudolph. The result guarantees a home quarter-final for Essex, while the Welsh county may need to beat Gloucestershire in their final game to make the last eight.
The usually miserly Alfonso Thomas was carted for 43 off his four overs as Kent posted 195-7 against Somerset in Canterbury. In reply, Colin Ingram scored an unbeaten 37 off just 18 deliveries to help Somerset reach 59-5 in the eighth over. That was as much play as the weather would allow, giving Kent a 40-run victory on the D/L method. The result ended Somerset’s challenge for the title, ensuring they will miss the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Worcestershire beat Northamptonshire by 31 runs at Wantage Road. After restricting the visitors to 162-9, Northants started well. Richard Levi and his opening partner David Wiley scored 25 and 19 respectively, but once they fell, the chase lost all impetus. The loss means that the defending champions will have to reply on Nottinghamshire beating Leicestershire this week or their title defence will come to a premature end.
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