Following a spell on top of the table, Glamorgan have dropped to second place in the Southern group as a result of Friday night’s action in the NatWest T20 Blast with Hampshire consolidating on their victory last night over the Welsh county at The Ageas Bowl by defeating the Kent Spitfires by six wickets at Canterbury.
After Kent posted 167/7, rookie wicket-keeper Calvin Dickinson sent Hampshire on their way with an explosive fifty from 24 balls as the visitors reached 77/0 at the end of the powerplays, before another sublime half-century from James Vince saw his side cruise to their target , further improving their net run rate, besides leapfrogging Glamorgan (on 14 points from a dozen games) to take over top spot in the group with 15 points from thirteen games.
Somerset remain in third place on 12 points after losing on Saturday afternoon to the Kent Spitfires by six wickets who despite a late night journey to Taunton proved to be the superior team with Adam Milne claiming 5/11 before Sam Billings posted a 35 ball fifty as the Spitfires won with ten balls to spare. Somerset will therefore look to return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon with the visit of Glamorgan in a match which could be pivotal in deciding who secures a place in the last four, and a home quarter-final against teams from the Northern Group.
Gloucestershire began Friday night in fourth spot on 12 points and, unlike the teams above them, still had four games still to play. But they were dismissed by the Sussex Sharks on Friday night at Hove for 138 as Chris Jordan and George Garton each claimed three wickets. Despite a mid-innings wobble, a combative 45 by Laurie Evans, plus some lusty blows from David Wiese saw the Sharks home by five wickets in the 18th over.
This victory sees the Sharks rise up into third place, with Gloucestershire slipping to fourth spot, but with Middlesex losing to bottom placed Essex Eagles, each remain in the hunt for a quarter-final berth with Gloucestershire having another chance to rise up the table as they meet the Eagles at Bristol on Sunday, whilst the Sharks also meet Surrey that afternoon.
Gloucestershire meet Middlesex at Uxbridge on Tuesday before visiting The Kia Oval to play Surrey on Thursday. Also that evening the Essex Eagles meet the Kent Spitfires before Friday night sees the remaining zonal games in the Southern Group with the round of fixtures including the match between Glamorgan and Middlesex at The SSE SWALEC whilst Hampshire – in their final contest - welcome Somerset to The Ageas Bowl.