Opening pair set up Yorkshire win

A record opening stand of 122 between skipper Andrew Gale and Phil Jaques put Yorkshire on track for a 22-run victory over reigning champions Leicestershire in their Friends Life t20 encounter at Headingley.

The fine start set Yorkshire up for a total of 170 for four after winning the toss and the visitors were dismissed for 148 in reply, Australian paceman Mitchell Starc claiming the last three wickets in the final over.

Gale led the way this time with a belligerent 70 off only 42 balls with six fours and three sixes while fellow left-hander Jaques contributed 48 from 41 deliveries with five fours and a six.

Worcestershire got their Friends Provident t20 campaign under way with dazzling half-centuries by Moeen Ali and Phil Hughes in a comfortable 47-run victory over Gloucestershire at New Road.

Chris Liddle bowled a sensational penultimate over to help Sussex clinch an 11-run victory over Middlesex at Lord's. Liddle took three wickets in four balls to finish with career-best figures of five for 17 and wreck Middlesex's hopes of chasing down Sussex's total of 143 for eight.

Nottinghamshire breezed to a seven-wicket victory over Durham in their Friends Life Twenty20 clash at Chester-le-Street.

Set a paltry 115 to win, the Outlaws reached their target with 3.4 overs to spare for their second win in the Northern Group while their other game, against Derbyshire, was washed out on Friday.

The Kent Spitfires got off the mark with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Surrey at Beckenham.

Led by Rob Key, who hit an unbeaten 51, and Darren Stevens, whose 43 not out came off just 25 balls and included four sixes, the hosts cantered home with 22 deliveries to spare after Surrey could only muster 116 for seven in their 20 overs.

Jos Buttler's unbeaten 58 saw Somerset to a thrilling five-wicket win over Northants with one ball to spare at Taunton.