REHAN AHMED TAKES FOUR WICKETS AS YORKSHIRE BEAT LEICESTERSHIRE

Yorkshire fell short of extending their lead at the top of the T20 Blast North Group after Rehan Ahmed's four-wicket haul could not prevent a closer contest at Grace Road. Leicestershire posted 147 for 8, with Nick Kelly top-scoring on 44. Yorkshire had won four of their previous five matches, including a victory over Lancashire. Ahmed ran out one batter and took three wickets of his own to disrupt Leicestershire's middle order.

Ahmed opened the batting but departed for a duck as Leicestershire's innings developed modestly. Yorkshire attacked from the outset, scoring at 11 runs per over during the powerplay with Jonny Bairstow leading the charge. Ahmed also took a catch to dismiss Adam Lyth before his bowling spell changed the course of the match. The result meant Yorkshire remained top of the North Group but did not extend their advantage over third-placed Leicestershire to 12 points.

Elsewhere in the T20 Blast, Essex recorded a third consecutive win to move to second place in the South Group. Charlie Allison and Luc Benkenstein put on 133 runs in 16 overs in the first innings against Middlesex, who were bowled out in under 18 overs. Middlesex have now lost five matches and sit bottom of the South Group. Sussex and Lancashire are also struggling, leaving a significant portion of counties in poor form across the competition.