Taylor, Hales and Prior star as runs flow

Half-centuries from Alex Hales and Samit Patel eclipsed a brilliant hundred from Wes Durston as the Nottinghamshire romped past Derbyshire by five wickets with three overs to spare. Durston hit 111 off 59 balls, with seven sixes and 11 fours for the first century of this season's Friends Provident t20, as the Trent Bridge visitors amassed an intimidating 192 for six. But Hales smashed 69 from just 25 balls - including three sixes and 11 fours - in partnership with Ali Brown as Nottinghamshire raced to 99 off the first seven overs of their reply before both batsmen fell in consecutive overs. Patel ensured there was no chance of the momentum being lost with a classy innings containing seven fours and three more sixes and was there at the close to complete the victory, finishing on 62 not out

Ross Taylor and Ian Blackwell trumped Warwickshire with high-powered half-centuries as Durham registered their first Friends Provident t20 win of the season by 15 runs at Edgbaston. New Zealander Taylor romped to 64 from only 28 balls and Blackwell went on to make 79, the highest score by a Durham batsman and a platform for the Dynamos to go beyond 200 for the first time in short-form cricket. Ian Bell's 47-ball 85 wasn't enough in a tough run chase but showed why he has been recalled to England's one-day squad.

Leicestershire spin duo Brad Hodge and Claude Henderson ended Lancashire's unbeaten start to their Friends Provident t20 campaign with a 14-run win at Old Trafford. The home side were reasonably well placed in their pursuit of 142 at 63 for 1 in the 10th over but they slipped to 104 for 7 in the 18th with Henderson and Hodge the catalysts. Offspinner Hodge, who spent four seasons as Lancashire's overseas player ending in 2008, took 2 for 16 from his four overs and Henderson 2 for 19. Captain Matthew Hoggard also claimed 3 for 19 as Lancashire finished 127 for 9. The visitors have now won two North Division matches on the bounce.

Chaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their duck in this year's Friends Provident t20 with a 21-run win over Worcestershire. He hit a fluent 54, including three huge sixes, as a makeshift opener as the hosts posted a total of 143 for 8 from their 22 overs. Vaas went on to grab two wickets with the ball as Northamptonshire ended a run of three straight defeats by restricting the visitors to 122 for 8

Emergency skipper Adam Gilchrist answered the Middlesex call by cracking a 47-ball century to ease the visitors to a comfortable six-wicket Friends Provident t20 win over Kent at Canterbury. The 38-year Australian Test great was thrust into the captaincy role following Shaun Udal's mid-afternoon resignation and responded by smashing 106, with nine fours and seven sixes.

Kieron Pollard and Alfonso Thomas demolished Hampshire, who lost their last six wickets for four runs to slide to a sensational last-over defeat in their Friends Provident t20 clash at the Rose Bowl. In a low-scoring match, Hampshire were poised for victory at 93 for 4, requiring only another 11 runs in almost four overs to see off Somerset's challenge. But Thomas and Pollard came on, and Hampshire fell away in spectacular style to lose by six runs with four balls remaining.

Matt Prior issued a powerful message to the England selectors as reigning champions Sussex beat Gloucestershire by seven wickets to strengthen their position at the top of the Friends Provident t20 Southern Division. Left out of England's 13-man one-day international squad earlier this week, Prior smashed an unbeaten 90 from 49 balls to help the reigning champions chase down a victory target of 167 with more than four overs to spare as county cricket returned to Gloucester's Kings School for the first time since 2008.

Mark Cosgrove and Tom Maynard powered Glamorgan to a superb seven-wicket victory over Essex in their Friends Provident t20 match at Chelmsford. The duo combined in a thrilling partnership of 97 in only 50 balls to set up victory with 14 deliveries to spare after Essex had posted a total of 191 for 6. Cosgrove plundered 89 from 55 balls, with the help of 13 fours and two sixes, although he had one slice of good fortune when he was put down at short third man by David Masters when 44. Maynard finished with an unbeaten 66 from 30 balls, with four fours and six sixes, the last of which saw the Welsh county to their third win in the competition in as many matches.