Vitality T20 Blast 2024 Points Table: Updated standings after Sussex vs Essex, Match 104

The Vitality Blast 2024 season continued with match number 104 of the tournament on July 13, as Sussex hosted Essex at the County Ground at Hove in a crucial South Group fixture. Sussex failed to capitalize on their home advantage by falling short to a resurgent Essex unit, fueled by an incredible run-chase masterclass from number three batter Michael Pepper.

With not a single North Group match lined up for July 13, its nine-team points table remained as it was, with Warwickshire topping on 16 points from 11 matches. Lancashire, with 15 points, is placed second on the standings with an NRR of 1.11. They are followed by third-placed Durham with 13 points an NRR of a negative 0.379.

Leicestershire (0.151) and Northamptonshire (-0.379), with 12 points each, occupy the next two slots. Similarly, Derbyshire and Yorkshire are battling for the sixth place with both teams on 11 points. Worcestershire is placed at number eight, while Nottinghamshire are rock bottom for now.

Updated North Group standings:

Pos	Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	NR	Pts	NRR
1	Warwickshire	11	8	3	0	16	1.159
2	Lancashire	12	6	3	3	15	1.11
3	Durham	12	6	5	1	13	-0.379
4	Leicestershire	12	5	5	1	12	0.151
5	Northamptonshire	11	5	4	1	12	-0.379
6	Derbyshire	11	5	5	1	11	0.452
7	Yorkshire	12	5	6	1	11	0.057
8	Worcestershire	12	4	8	0	8	-0.181
9	Nottinghamshire	11	2	7	2	6	-2.073

Owing to the outcome of the lone fixture that took place on July 13, Essex swapped places with Somerset to climb to number three on the South Group points table. Surrey and Sussex continue to hold the top two spots with 16 points each, while Somerset slipped to number four.

Gloucestershire are fifth with five wins from 12 games and have an NRR of -0.005. Hampshire, Glamorgan, and Middlesex all have nine points each and occupy the next three slots on the ladder, respectively. Kent, with just three wins from 12 matches and a dismal NRR of -0.946, continues to dwell at the bottom of the nine-team group.

Updated South Group standings:

Pos	Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	NR	Pts	NRR
1	Surrey	11	7	2	1	16	1.358
2	Sussex	12	8	4	0	16	0.66
3	Essex	12	7	4	1	15	0.346
4	Somerset	11	6	4	1	13	1.088
5	Gloucestershire	12	5	6	0	11	-0.005
6	Hampshire	11	3	5	3	9	-0.61
7	Glamorgan	11	4	6	1	9	-0.829
8	Middlesex	12	3	6	3	9	-1.572
9	Kent	12	3	9	0	6	-0.946

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Michael Pepper outmaneuvers Sussex attack in incredible chase

Batting first, Sussex batters stacked up 207/2 from 20 overs courtesy of sparkling half-centuries from opener Daniel Hughes (43-ball 81) and an unbeaten 72* from number three batter Tom Clark. Tom Alsop added the finishing touches to the innings with a fiery 27* from 14 balls to fuel his team’s monumental total.

Among the Essex bowlers, only Shane Santner (1/43) and Matt Critchley (1/20) managed to grab a wicket, while each of the remaining four utilized bowlers conceded runs at more than nine-an-over.

In response, Essex lost openers Adam Rossington and Dean Elgar cheaply to Ollie Robinson and Tymal Mills respectively. Moreover, Robinson struck two more times inside the powerplay as Essex slipped to 53/4 in a chase of 208.

Forming forces with Charlie Allison (44* off 26 balls) at 90/5 in 9.1 overs, number three batter Michael Pepper launched nine boundaries and nine sixes to make an unbeaten 120 from just 53 balls to steer Essex to a remarkable five-wicket win with an over-and-a-half to spare.