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Klinger outshines the rest in T20 Blast

Western Australian in a rich vein of form again for Gloucestershire in England's domestic competition

Michael Klinger outshone a host of big-name internationals in England’s domestic Twenty20 competition on Friday, as he continued his prolific form for Gloucestershire with another match-winning century.

As George Bailey (Middlesex) made his debut in the competition fresh from Australia's tour of the Caribbean, alongside other prolific internationals including Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson, Klinger stole the show as he struck a 71-ball 101 to help Gloucestershire to victory.

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After Somerset posted 167, with former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawadena (41 off 34 balls) top-scoring, the Australian veteran took just 67 balls to bring up triple figures as his side won with four balls to spare.

The victory propelled the Gloucestershire into top spot in the south group of the competition, while Klinger's 315 runs in nine matches makes him the tournament’s leading run-scorer.

It was the 35-year-old’s fifth T20 century for Gloucestershire but, typically modest, the opener insisted individual milestones were only an afterthought.

"I certainly don’t go out in T20 cricket thinking about getting hundreds," Klinger told gloscricket.co.uk. "All I do is try to get us off to a good a start as possible.

"I have a game-plan I work through through the middle and then the back end. If that means I end up getting a hundred, (that's) great.

"If it means I 40 or 50 or 60 and help the team get into a winning position, then that’s cool as well. Today it just worked out I was able to get to three-figures."

Across all formats, Klinger has now struck four centuries this northern summer since joining the club in mid-May and has been dismissed short of 50 just seven times in 16 innings in his fourth stint with the Bristol-based club.

His limited-overs record for Gloucestershire is something to behold; in 42 T20s, Klinger has now struck 1633 runs at just under 50. He’s been even better in one-day cricket, with 1705 runs at 85.25 in 31 50-over matches.

On debut for Middlesex, Bailey made 16 off 19 balls as his side posted 146 against Sussex who, led by New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor (33 off 32 balls) and Matt Machan (41 off 30), chased down the total in the penultimate over.

In one of the most anticipated showdowns of the England domestic calendar, the Roses derby, Williamson hit 28 off 22 balls to help Yorkshire to a five-run win over their fiercest northern rivals, Lancashire.

The New Zealand captain’s contribution had helped the home side to a modest 141.

In Lancashire’s reply, the Lightning lost Jordan Clark early to a briliant catch from Adam Lyth in an early setback.

But when Liam Livingstone hit three sixes off the first three balls of the 11th over take his side to 3-87, the visitors looked on track to win.

However, the final two balls of that Karl Carver over yielded the wickets of captain Steven Croft and then Livingstone himself (for 36 off 18), a collapse from which Lancashire never recovered.

In Chelmsford, former England allrounder Ravi Bopara smashed six sixes in a 43-ball 81 to help Essex to 204, which proved too much for Kent.

Fresh off his man-of-the-match performance against Sussex last night, young South Africa seamer had former Kiwi batsman Jesse Ryder caught behind on the third ball of the match and finished with 1-31 from his four overs for Kent.

Rabada’s Protea teammate Kyle Abbott had a night to forget on debut for Worcestershire, conceding 57 from 3.5 overs as his side’s 185 was overhauled by Derbyshire.

The Birmingham Bears, soon to be joined by Australia ODI wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, only managed 8-86 in a rain-affected match against Northamptonshire, who reached the target in the 13th over.

At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire’s match against Durham was abandoned due to a waterlogged ground.