Let's take a look at what all transpired in the ongoing Vitality Blast 2021, on 1 July.
Lancashire vs Worcestershire
Lancashire 159/6 in 20 overs (Jones 49*; Dwarshuis 2-30) beat Worcestershire 125 in 18.3 overs (Cox 36; Hartley 4-16) by 34 runs.
Tom Hartley and Saqib Mahmood picked up eight wickets between themselves to bowl out Worcestershire for 125. Lancashire won the match by 34 runs.
Chasing 160, Worcestershire lost three batters inside the Powerplay. Ben Cox offered some resistance, making 36 off 30 balls, but there was no support for him from the other end. Tom Hartley returned 4-0-16-4.
Earlier in the day, Finn Allen (25) and Keaton Jennings (34) added 52 runs in just over five overs, but a couple of wickets in quick succession reduced Lancashire to 85/4. Rob Jones’ unbeaten 33-ball 49 eventually propelled them to 159/6.
Nottinghamshire vs Leicestershire
Leicestershire 154 in 20 overs (Swindells 36; Harrison 3-20) lost to Nottinghamshire 158/4 in 17.5 overs (Patel 63*; Parkinson 2-32) by 6 wickets with 13 balls to spare.
A half-century from Samit Patel and a 38-ball 41 from Ben Slater saw Nottinghamshire sail past the target of 155 set up by Leicestershire with 13 balls remaining. Patel’s unbeaten 63 comprised six fours and three sixes. For Leicestershire, Callum Parkinson and Naveen-ul-Haq picked up two wickets each.
Patel earlier struck in the first over of the match, having Scott Steel caught by Ben Duck for a golden duck. Josh Inglis and Arron Lilley did get starts but neither could capitalise on that. A late surge from Ben Mike (27) propelled them to a par total.
Essex vs Glamorgan
Glamorgan 104 in 17 overs (Cooke 25; Plom 2-16) lost to Essex 108/2 in 12.2 overs (Lawrence 55*; Walker 1-8) by eight wickets.
Chelmsford witnessed a one-sided contest where Essex outmuscled Glamorgan, who were without four first-string players, to register their fifth victory of the season. Chris Cooke's 25 was the highest contribution for Glamorgan. They were skittled out for 104 in 17 overs. Sam Cook, Jack Plom and Simon Harmer picked two wickets each.
Essex lost an early wicket, of William Buttleman, but Adam Wheater and Dan Lawrence then took the sting out of this contest with a 70-run partnership. Lawrence remained unbeaten on 55.
Middlesex vs Sussex
Middlesex 166/7 in 20 overs (Eskinazi 59; Mills 2-31) beat Sussex 103/9 in 20 overs (Head 23; Cullen 3-21) by 63 runs.
Nathan Sowter and Blake Cullen ran through Sussex to reduce them to a paltry 103/9 after Middlesex posted 166/7. Sowter and Cullen claimed three wickets each, while Tom Helm, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Steven Finn got one wicket apiece.
Earlier, openers Steven Eskinazi and Max Holden got Middlesex to a rollicking start, adding 85 runs in nine overs. Holden fell prey to Archie Lenham on 38, and the rest of the batters gave away the advantageous position. Eskinazi made 59 in 37 balls.
Gloucestershire vs Somerset
Gloucestershire 161/7 in 20 overs (Howell 52; Gregory 5-24) lost to Somerset 165/2 in 19.2 overs (Conway 81*; Smith 1-25) by 8 wickets with 4 balls to spare.
Lewis Gregory claimed 5-24 before the Somerset top-order fired on all cylinders, romping to an eight-wicket victory over Gloucestershire. Benny Howell (52) and Miles Hammond (44) added 56 for the second wicket, but the middle order faltered. Jack Taylor and Ryan Higgins chipped in with handy contributions to take Gloucestershire to 161/7.
Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 81, and forged crucial partnerships with Will Smeed and Lewis Goldsworthy to take the game away from Gloucestershire.