Vikings eye home run after Willey stuns Steelbacks
DAVID Willey is eyeing a home Blast quarter-final after his powerful 74 guided YORKSHIRE VIKINGS to a 75run win over former employers NORTHANTS STEELBACKS.
The Vikings set Northants a formidable 216 to win at Headingley thanks largely to Willey’s 46-ball knock that included six sixes and five fours, while Tim Bresnan made a valuable unbeaten 26 from 12 balls.
Steelbacks began aggressively in pursuit, but with Liam Plunkett, Azeem Rafiq and Adil Rashid all grabbing two wickets apiece, they collapsed to 140 all out in 15.2 overs.
The sides meet again in a winner takes-all clash at Wantage Road in today’s final round of group games and Willey admitted the pull of a home quarter-final would be a powerful motivation for the White Rose.
“The atmosphere at Headingley was great, it was pumping and fingers crossed if things work out we can get a home quarter-final – here’s hoping,” he said.
“It was a great crowd and we put on a good performance, all-round it was a great evening.
“We knew our last three games were must-win games and we have two of them, so we head down to Northants on Friday knowing that if we win that we’re through to the quarter-finals.
“It is a decent position to be in, but the job’s not done yet.”
Greg Smith’s 52 from 31 balls sealed NOTTS OUTLAWS’ quarter-final place as they wrapped up a six-wicket win over BIRMINGHAM BEARS.
The Bears started sluggishly at Edgbaston, but Ian Bell accumulated 80 from 55 balls in a 116-run stand with Will Porterfield to finish on 172-2.
But Michael Lumb, Riki Wessels and Dan Christian all made valuable contributions with the bat before Smith sealed victory with five balls to spare, and Bell’s side now face a mustwin game against LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING at Emirates Old Trafford. Lancashire had squeaked to a four-run victory over DURHAM JETS at Chester-le-Street as Saqib Mahmood took 3-31.
DERBYSHIRE FALCONS eased to a 29-run win over WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS at the County Ground.
The Falcons’ impressive teenage leg-spinner Matt Critchley grabbed three wickets, and they can boost their quarter-final chances with victory over fellow knockout hopefuls Durham next time out.