Vitality Blast | Gloucestershire make it six in a row; Falcons and Rapids win thrillers

Gloucestershire 173/6 beat Birmingham Bears 123 by 50 runs
Derbyshire Falcons 147/8 beat Leicestershire Foxes 143/4 by four runs
Worcestershire Rapids 178/6 beat Steelbacks 170/7 by eight runs

BEARS VAN BLASTED
Gloucestershire made it six wins in a row, sit top of the Central group and qualified for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals after a comprehensive victory over Birmingham Bears. Graeme van Buuren was the pick of the hosts' bowlers, picking up the wicket of Dom Sibley in the first over before later claiming Will Rhodes and Tim Bresnan. Gloucestershire had earlier posted a competitive 173 thanks to yet more rapid runs from Ian Cockbain, who struck a 21-ball 44. 

LEVI 50 IN VAIN
Richard Levi got the Steelbacks off to a terrific start but they fell just short of the Worcestershire Rapids total. Levi struck nine boundaries in his 29-ball half-century, including three consecutive fours from the start of Dillon Pennington's first over. When Levi was third man out on 82, the Steelbacks still had a chance, but despite lower-order hitting from Adam Rossington, the Rapids held on - their runs coming in large part from Hamish Rutherford, who hit 62.

FALCONS SNATCH FIRST WIN
Derbyshire Falcons managed to defend a modest total against Leicestershire Foxes to record their first victory of the Vitality Blast season. Having posted just 147/8, with Gavin Griffiths taking four wickets, the Falcons made inroads to leave Leicestershire 75/4 in the 11th. George Rhodes and Harry Dearden looked to be cruising to the target but good death bowling by Dustin Melton and Michael Cohen kept the Foxes four runs short.