Liam Livingstone hit a superb rapid 79 from just 37 balls as Lancashire went on to beat Roses rivals Yorkshire in a dramatic last-ball Vitality Blast finish.

The Red Rose captain hit six sixes in a team total of 176 for two in just 14 overs at Emirates Old Trafford, the match reduced by rain.

England Test captain Joe Root later made an unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls after opener Adam Lyth added a brilliant 60 from 26 deliveries as Yorkshire went close.

The visitors needed 17 from the final over – with young seamer Toby Lester keeping them to 15 in a one-run win to leave the Lightning top of the North Group with five wins from six.

At Chester-le-Street, England all-rounder Ben Stokes claimed career-best T20 figures of four for 16 as Durham Jets beat Worcestershire Rapids by seven wickets.

Stokes, preparing for the start of England’s upcoming Test series against India, then scored 43 off 24 deliveries, before being ousted by England team-mate Moeen Ali.

Fellow opener Graham Clark made 55 as the home side eased to victory with 32 balls to spare.

Worcestershire had been dismissed for 121 after 19.2 overs, Travis Head having made a rapid 40.

Surrey equalled the third-highest score in Blast history as they compiled 250 for six against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury, but it was to no avail as the match was later abandoned because of rain.

Aaron Finch (83 from 38) and Rory Burns (50 from 28) had put on 120 for the first wicket.

Surrey’s total is the joint eighth highest in a T20 game, but the rain arrived before Kent could start the reply so each team had to settle for a point.

At Edgbaston, it finished all square between Birmingham Bears and Northants Steelbacks.

After being put into bat, the Steelbacks piled up 231 for five, with Richard Levi smashing an unbeaten 95 and Josh Cobb making 61.

Birmingham responded with a first T20 century from Ian Bell (131 from 62 balls) and 64 by Adam Hose in a world-record T20 third-wicket stand of 171 from 85 balls.

However, with 10 runs required from the last over, the hosts came up one short to leave honours even.

Ben Raine plundered 83 to help Leicestershire Foxes to a 17-run victory over Notts Outlaws in the east midlands derby at Trent Bridge.

Raine’s stunning innings came off only 43 balls, which saw six boundaries and five over the ropes as the Foxes posted 193 for six.

The Outlaws saw opening batsman Riki Wessels rattle his way to a 22-ball half-century, but the defending champions could only muster 176 for nine, as Mohammad Abbas took career-best figures of three for 32.

Gloucestershire’s quest to defeat Essex Eagles and move clear at the top of the South Group was hit by rain at Cheltenham.

Varun Chopra scored a half-century as Essex reached 172 for seven in 18.2 overs before the heavens opened, the match later abandoned.

A maiden half-century from Colin Munro saw Hampshire finally record a first victory of the tournament with a 21-run win over Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl.

Munro crashed 63 from 40 balls as the home side posted 184 all out from 19.4 overs, with James Fuller claiming Blast-best figures of six for 28.

In reply, Max Holden (36) and Dwayne Bravo (38) found little support, with Middlesex only able to reach 163 for nine.

Somerset beat Glamorgan by 30 runs at Sophia Gardens.

James Hildreth hit an unbeaten 56 and Corey Anderson made 59 in the visitors’ 190 for five. Despite opener Usman Khawaja making 44, it was not enough as Glamorgan managed only 160 for nine.