Vitality Blast round up

It’s just over half way in the Blast and it’s the Steelbacks and Somerset setting the pace in their respective groups

The Vitality Blast now takes a break as counties play two rounds of Championship cricket, and we therefore take a look at how things stand.

In the North Group, Northamptonshire Steelbacks have given their supporters something to cheer about after a disappointing Championship campaign so far, sitting at the top with six wins from eight games. However, they have lost their last two games, going down to Durham and Notts Outlaws. Their successes has been built around their three senior statesmen, David Willey, Ravi Bopara and Ben Sanderson, Willey leading the side. Willey and Bopara are not involved in red ball cricket, but lead their Blast run scoring with 236 and 216 runs respectively. They have also had the services of Matthew Breetzke, who missed the opening red ball games following his call up to the IPL. Meanwhile Sanderson is the top wicket taker in the competition so far with 21 wickets, Willey also contributing 13. It is an experienced line up, Justin Broad the youngest member at 24, who has contributed useful runs.

Of the chasers, Lancashire Lightnning are best placed, trailing by four points with a game in hand. In their last match they piled up 243/7 against Derbyshire Falcons and Keaton Jennings has been setting the standard with the bat, having scored 299 runs at a strike rate of 161.22. James Anderson leads their wicket-taking with 10 at an excellent economy of 6.86 runs per over, although it has not been enough to earn him a Hundred call up.

Durham and Leicestershire Foxes join the Lightning, on 20 points. Durham have been scoring plenty of runs with Alex Lees, Will Rhodes and Graham Clark all accumulating in excess of 180. Meanwhile Ben Raine has 16 wickets at an economy of 7.32 runs per over. Callum Parkinson has also kept it tight, going at just 6.88 runs per over.

The Foxes have carried their Championship form into the Blast and like Durham, have five wins from their eight games so far. Shan Masood has replaced Peter Handscomb in the side and has scored 169 runs so far, while Sol Budinger leads the way with 182. They have a couple of useful all rounders in Logan van Beek and Rehan Ahmed, van Beek leading the wicket taking with 13 at a slightly expensive 8.91 runs per over.

The Birmingham Bears and Notts Outlaws are both just four points further back and will be optimistic of moving up the table, although the Outlaws have played one game more.

In the South Group, it is no surprise to see Somerset at the top, having made finals day in each of the last four years, coming away as Champions in 2023. Their only defeat so far was to Kent Spitfires, a game in which Daniel Bell-Drummond scored the first century of this year’s competition, and even then Somerset fell just four runs short of the Spitfires’ total of 228. They have the usual hard hitting batting line up led by Will Smeed and Tom Banton at the top of the order and a strong pace attack, Matt Henry this year joining Riley Meredith as the overseas recruits. Meredith has taken one wicket less than Sanderson, while Craig Overton surprisingly has just two, although an excellent economy rate of just 7.00 runs per over. Lewis Goldsworthy has provided the sole spin option, his left arm orthodox going at just 7.76 runs per over.

Surrey have played three games in four days this week, but have been boosted by the return of Will Jacks and Reece Topley from the IPL. They now field a side with 10 international players, despite the loss of Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith, and it is no surprise to have seen them win each of these contests with plenty to spare. Importantly, two of those wins have been against Hampshire Hawks and Sussex Sharks, both of whom will be hoping for a top four spot. Their two losses so far have been against Somerset and the Hawks and it would be a surprise not to see Surrey at finals day again.

Sussex Sharks were beaten at the semi-final stage of last year’s competition, and have made a strong start to this year’s competition, currently six points behind second placed Surrey, with a game in hand. They are led for the second year by Tymal Mills, who heads a strong pace attack which includes Ollie Robinson and Nathan McAndrew. With Jack Carson and James Coles providing the spin options, and a decent batting line up, they look a good bet to reach finals day again.

The Spitfires sit alongside the Sharks on 18 points, although they have played a game more. Tawanda Muyeye currently leads the competition’s run-scoring with 362, thanks in part to 100 off 59 balls in their last outing, a 47 run win against winless Essex Eagles. Kent now have the only two centurions so far. The wickets have been shared amongst their bowlers, Australian Tom Rogers leading the way with 10.

Glamorgan sit in fifth place, but their four wins have all come against the bottom three teams in the group, and they have struggled to score runs against the better bowling attacks.

Hampshire Hawks look to be the main threat to the Spitfires for the final quarter final spot, but their hopes were dented on Friday night when they managed just 124/9 against Gloucestershire, although it required all 120 balls for the Shire to reach the target.

We now have to wait until 4th July for the Blast to resume and then there will be a seven week break before the knock out games start. Good luck counties sorting out their overseas players!

Vitality Blast Men Tables

North Group

South Group