Across the Atlantic, the Twenty20 World \Cup began with some fanfare but, until the USA shocked Pakistan, the action on then pitch has been underwhelming. Wonderful to see the likes of Oman, Nepal and Papua New Guinea, though. Back in Blighty, the Vitality Blast has launched well below the radar. Competing with the World Cup, this year’s tournament robs counties of the world’s big names but gives regulars and experienced biff-bang merchants the opportunity to make headlines.
The first week threw up only a handful of 200-plus scores, two of them by Surrey, the only side with three consecutive victories. Despite the arrival of Jason Roy and Tom Curran, it was Jamie Smith who starred with the bat, crunching 87 and 76 against Somerset and Glamorgan, respectively. Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast was the only other player to strike two fifties and Essex’s Michael Pepper the sole centurion, thumping a 44-ball 101 to defeat Middlesex at Chelmsford. His other innings were 7 and a golden duck, but that’s T20 for you!
Middlesex, Nottinghamshire and Durham are the dunces of the week, losing all their fixtures. The latter have been bowled out twice for a combined total of 176, with Michael Jones’ 29 against the Bears their highest individual score. Former England star Alex Hales hasn’t exactly set Trent Bridge alight, but Sussex paceman Tymal Mills has delivered a couple of four-wicket performances and 39-year-old Ravi Bopara has once again been an inspirational all-rounder for Northamptonshire.
It has been seven years since Mason Crane made his two T20 international appearances against South Africa but this week his leg-spin has been consistently on the money for Glamorgan., claiming six scalps without being thumped all around the grounds.
On a personal note, my highlight of the Blast to date was Somerset replicating the 2023 Final success against Essex at Taunton. Fine strokeplay by Smeed, Abell and Lewis Gregory ensured the target was reached in the final over, Craig Overton applying the coup de grace with a boundary
Team of the Week:- Wells (Lan), Bell-Drummond (Ken), Northeast
(Gla), Pepper (Ess), Cox (Ess), J Smith (Sur), Bopara (Nor), Cooke (Gla +),
Mike (Lei), Crane (Gla), Mills (Sus)
