Faulkner, Maxwell dominate Roses clash

In a contest that pitted two sides with centuries worth of enmity, it was two Australian World Cup-winning allrounders who played decisive roles for Yorkshire and Lancashire respectively on Friday.

The “War of the Roses” clash began in typically explosive fashion, with Glenn Maxwell reverse-sweeping the first ball of the England T20 domestic encounter over the cover/ mid-wicket rope en route to an 18-run opening over.

Maxwell, Faulkner and Buttler starred in England overnight

Maxwell couldn’t go on with the innings however, picking out Alex Davies and departing for 18 off nine balls.

But England batsmen Joe Root (55 off 39) and Gary Ballance (31 off 21) were able to continue the Australian’s momentum, helping Yorkshire to a healthy total of 8-185.

For Lancashire, James Faulkner was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3-27 including the key wickets of Root and skipper Andrew Gale.

The visitors started well in their chase to reach 41 without loss before Maxwell struck, removing Liam Livingstone (27 off 16), Karl Brown (21 off 24) and Ashwell Prince (32 off 29) to have Lancashire in a spot of bother at 3-89.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler then saved the day for Lancashire, his aggressive display, which included five boundaries and five sixes, guiding Lancashire to a thrilling last-ball, four-wicket win.

Buttler finished unbeaten on 71 off 35 balls, while Maxwell was the standout of the Yorkshire attack with 3-15 off four overs.

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The Gayle show rolls on

Chris Gayle continued his enviable form for Somerset, scoring 85 not out as his team cruised to an eight-wicket win over Hampshire in Taunton.

Batting first, Hampshire posted 3-167 thanks to James Vince's 64 off 53, but Somerset never looked in doubt in the chase, reaching 2-173 in 18.3 overs as Gayle scored the winning runs with a maximum.

Gayle, who has now scored 328 runs in three innings for Somerset, said it was an important win.

“I'll be having a few ciders with the lads to celebrate,” Gayle said after the match.

“It was an important win for the team in the group because now we have two victories from four games and I'm delighted to (have) scored some more runs.

"The crowd pumped me up at the end and I was able to finish the game with the six they were calling for.”

Hastings’ spell thwarts Derbyshire

Derbyshire looked in the box seat for a win over Durham after the first innings on Friday, having restricted the visitors to a below-par 7-147.

But a late collapse brought on by disciplined Durham bowling – including a crucial 3-29 from veteran allrounder John Hastings – ensured a five-run victory for the visitors.

Hastings grabbed the key wicket of opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (54 off 49 balls), along with those of Tom Poynton and Tom Knight, to help restrict Derbyshire to 9-142.

Foxes continue winning run

Fresh from their first County Championship victory since 2012, Leicestershire kept the winning feeling rolling against Nottinghamshire in their domestic T20 clash at Trent Bridge.

Clint McKay's 4-24 from four overs restricted Notts to 7-148, while Alex Hales’ top-scored for Nottinghamshire with his second fifty in three innings.

McKay dismissed Brendan Taylor and James Taylor with consecutive balls and, while he was denied a hat-trick, his next delivery did produce a wicket, with Stuart Broad run out trying to steal a bye.

Leicestershire’s reply looked in trouble early when Jake Ball removed three top-order batsmen with his first 14 deliveries, but the Foxes fought back thanks to Pakistan international Umar Akmal, who scored an unbeaten 76 off 49 balls in his Leicestershire debut to help the Foxes pass the target in the 19th over.

Ali and Ajmal steal the show

A big innings from Moeen Ali helped Worcestershire to their second consecutive victory on Friday, toppling Northamptonshire by 14 runs.

The England allrounder smashed 90 off just 50 balls, in an innings that included 11 fours and five sixes, and shared a 131-run first-wicket partnership with captain Daryl Mitchell (43 off 31) to helped Worcestershire post 3-211.

Josh Cobb gave Northants hope in reply when he scored 80 from 44 balls, but ultimately the experience of Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal (3-53) ensured victory for Worcestershire, as he claimed the key wickets of Cobb and countryman Shahid Afridi.

In other domestic T20 action, Glamorgan claimed a final-ball win over Middlesex thanks to skipper Jacques Rudolph's 60 off 43.

Michael Klinger’s unbeaten century stand with Iain Cockbain helped Gloucestershire to a nine-wicket win over Kent.

Klinger scored 69 not out as the visitors chased Kent’s 6-156 with 16 balls to spare.

A half-century from Kumar Sangakkara was not enough to lift Surrey to victory against Essex at The Oval.

Sangakkara’s 58 off 38 balls helped Surrey post 170, but Essex reached the total in the final over thanks to a 115-run stand between Ravi Bopara (57 off 48) and Tom Westley (55 from 62).