Hampshire’s astonishing win over Glamorgan keeps alive quarter-final hopes

A superb showing keeps them in the race for the last eight

Joe Weatherley struck 43 from 13 balls as Hampshire stormed to victory over Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast (PA Archive)

Hampshire stormed to an astonishing six-wicket victory with 42 balls to spare over Glamorgan to keep alive their Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes.

Having started the day in sixth place, and chasing 185 for victory, the home side needed to beat the total inside 14.1 overs to leapfrog fourth-placed Surrey and they did so.

Joe Weatherley struck 43 from 13 balls, and D’Arcy Short powered his way to 69 from 30 at the Ageas Bowl.

Birmingham Bears kept their hopes of Blast qualification alive with a 14-run win over Northamptonshire.

Chris Benjamin struck an unbeaten 60 on debut as the Bears reached 191 for five to lead a recovery from 68 for four.

The Steelbacks hit 177 for eight in reply and threatened briefly when Rob Keogh struck an unbeaten 55 from 33 deliveries, but the bowlers kept the pressure on and restricted their total.

Sam Robson was only playing his seventh T20 match but hit 60 as Middlesex beat Essex Eagles by nine runs at the County Ground in Chelmsford.

Middlesex reached 169 for five, and Afghanistan international Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two for 18 to put the brakes on a promising chase, to ensure the visitors did not finish bottom of the South Group.