The two opening batsmen scored at a rate of knots to secure wins for their Counties in two high-scoring affairs in the T20 Blast, reports Gareth Stevens.

Friday saw an entire round of the T20 action take place in England. Once again the Saffas put their hands up and were influential in shaping a number of the results.

Jacques Rudolph scored an unbeaten 75 off 56 delivers to lead Glamorgan to victory over Surrey in a tight match at the Oval. The Welsh club made first use of the wicket and posted 192-4. Rudolph carried his bat, while Robin Peterson struggled with the ball. His two overs of left-arm spin cost 26 runs.

It was a flat pitch and Surrey were never out of the match. Glamorgan’s bowlers dealt with the pressure at the death, restricting the hosts to 188-4, and completing a four-run win.

A Richard Levi-inspired Northamptonshire chased down 191 to beat Derbyshire in Northampton. The visitors went into the break feeling they had posted a winning score, but Levi’s 69 off just 37 balls at the top of the order allowed the middle order to coast home and record a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare.

Elsewhere, stand in skipper Alfonso Thomas claimed two wickets in the final over to ensure Somerset beat Gloucestershire by seven runs at Taunton. He finished with figures of 3-34 in his four overs and was ably supported by countryman Tim Groenewald whose four overs yielded 1-32.

Dawid Malan’s Middlesex crushed Hampshire by 50 runs at The Rose Bowl. The former Paarl Boys’ pupil scored 15 at the top of the order as the visitors scored 173-6 in their 20 overs.

Hampshire lost wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for 123 inside 17 overs, to bring an end to the one-sided encounter.

Ashwell Prince top-scored with 41 off 35 balls to help Lancashire secure a 18-run win over Leicestershire at Grace Road. The result ensured that Lancashire remained at the top of the table in the north division.

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