Jonny Bairstow's 73 and four wickets from Jafer Chohan led Yorkshire to a record 106-run T20 Blast win over Lancashire, while Hampshire Hawks secured their fifth win in six games with a thrilling five-run victory over Surrey.
Cricket Blast round-up featuring Jake Lintott's impressive spin bowling for Kent, James Vince's return boosting Hampshire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks maintaining a perfect record, Glamorgan's strong batting, Yorkshire's win over Durham, and Martin Andersson's all-round performance for Derbyshire.
Somerset, the reigning T20 Blast champions, began their title defense with a dominant seven-wicket win over Hampshire Hawks. Other opening night victories included Yorkshire, Kent Spitfires, Surrey, Worcestershire Rapids, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Reigning champions Surrey started their Women's T20 Blast title defence by chasing 186 to beat Lancashire Thunder by six wickets. Elsewhere, Essex, The Blaze, and Somerset secured victories, with Somerset's match ending in a thrilling tie.
Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq, 30, joins the Bears for the T20 Blast and Birmingham Phoenix for the Hundred. Tariq, who has a unique bowling action due to a split elbow joint, welcomes scrutiny and has passed two official tests. He aims to prove himself in England after a successful rise from working in a car-parts company.
Peter Siddle and Samit Patel have been barred from the T20 Blast after playing in the unsanctioned World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa. Both featured in the disapproved tournament without BCCI backing, violating ECB regulations that ban players from county cricket for 12 months after such participation. Siddle, 41, was set to join Nottinghamshire as an overseas signing but the deal fell through. Patel, 41, had no county contract and accepted the directive, ending his streak of appearing in every T20 Blast since 2003.
