Vitality Blast | Babar hits hundred and Surrey qualify

Essex Eagles 168/3 beat Hampshire 114/9 by 54 runs
Middlesex 184/6 beat Kent Spitfires 182/7 by two runs
Somerset 183/3 beat Glamorgan 117 by 66 runs
Surrey 167/6 beat Sussex Sharks 165/7 by four wickets
Durham 147 beat Yorkshire Vikings 104 by 43 runs

BABAR BLASTS CENTURY
He had just 58 runs from four innings heading to Glamorgan, but Babar Azam left Cardiff with his first century in this year's Vitality Blast as Somerset romped to victory. The Pakistan opener looked in scintillating form from the get-go, clipping his fifth ball for six over square leg. He struck five sixes in total alongside nine fours, one of which brought up three-figures - the second time he's reached the milestone in county cricket, after hitting one at Hampshire last season.

BELL-DRUMMOND DRAGS KENT CLOSE
Kent Spitfires fell two runs short of victory against Middlesex, but they had got close thanks to the efforts of Daniel Bell-Drummond. Opening the batting, Bell-Drummond hit 89 as wickets fell around him to drag the Spitfires within touching distance of the visitors' 184/6. His nine fours and three sixes were typically classy and he went through the gears at the death, taking 27 off his last ten deliveries before getting out in the final over. 

JOE CRACKS IT FOR MIDDLESEX
Middlesex's win was set up by 20-year-old Joe Cracknell, featuring in just his second Vitality Blast match. He looked very much the part, racing to a 21-ball half-century with nine fours and a single six. It was an impressive knock, coming in under pressure in the third over, but his cool head got Middlesex out of a precarious start at 4/1 and to the points.

SURREY CLEAR AT TOP
Kent's defeat gave Surrey the chance to move clear at the top of the South Group, and did so by beating Sussex Sharks at the Kia Oval. The hosts shared the wickets in restricting Sussex to 165, and another half-century for Will Jacks at the top of the order ensured that it was five T20 wins in a row, and qualification for the quarter-finals.