NatWest T20 Blast wrap: Rabada, Cowdrey star in Kent win

NORTH GROUP

Durham vs Worcestershire

Worcestershire and Durham ended up sharing points after their North Group match at the Chester-le-Street was abandoned due to rain. The visitors, who were asked to bat first, managed to bat for 14.1 overs before persistent rain meant that there was no further play possible. Worcestershire had lost half their side for 103 runs before rain forced the players off the field. Joe Clarke top-scored with 36 while Keaton Jennings registered fine figures of two for 18 from his four overs.

The single point from the game helped Worcestershire consolidate their third position on the points table, who were at the sixth spot before this game, remained at the same position after getting a point from the abandoned match.

Brief scores: Worcestershire 103/5 in 14.1 overs (Joe Clarke 36, Daryl Mitchell 28; Keaton Jennings 2-18) vs Durham. No result.

SOUTH GROUP

Kent v Sussex

Useful contributions from the top-order batsmen and a disciplined performance with the ball helped Kent defeat Sussex by 10 runs in their home game at the St. Lawrence Ground.

Sussex, who suffered their third loss, along with two no-results, were still placed fourth. The two points from the game helped Kent tie with Essex on points, but their lower net run-rate meant that they were still at the seventh position.

Opting to bat first, Kent were given a superb start by the openers Tom Latham and Joe Denly, who added 97 runs before the latter fell to Chris Nash in the 12th over. Sam Northeast and Latham followed in quick succession, before Sam Billings and Alex Blake came up with quick-fire knocks to help Kent post a competitive total of 166 for 6.

In reply, Sussex lost their openers early with Kagiso Rabada, making his Natwest T20 Blast debut, bagging the wickets of both Nash and Luke Wright in a three-over first spell. Ross Taylor and Philip Salt added 60 runs for the third wicket, before Fabian Cowdrey sent them back in quick succession. Although Sussex did not lose a wicket after that, tight bowling by the hosts meant that Matt Machan and Craig Cachopa could not take the visitors over the line.

Brief scores: Kent 166/6 in 20 overs (Tom Latham 48, Joe Denly 44, Alex Blake 36*; Ajmal Shahzad 2-29) beat Sussex 156/4 in 20 overs (Ross Taylor 49, Matt Machan 30*; Fabian Cowdrey 2-8, Kagiso Rabada 2-31) by 10 runs.