Arron Lilley cracks 99 not out as Callum Parkinson stymies Yorkshire run-chase

Lancastrians Arron Lilley and Callum Parkinson dealt North Group leaders Yorkshire Vikings a blow as Leicestershire Foxes won by 34 runs to chalk up a third successive Vitality Blast victory.

Lilley just missed out on a maiden T20 hundred, but as the Foxes piled up 207 for 3, his 99 not out off 55 balls with four sixes was comfortably a career-best, while Parkinson took 4 for 35 with his left-arm spin.

Lilley shared a stand of 90 for the third wicket with Foxes skipper Colin Ackermann (40) on a poor night for the Vikings with the ball and in the field.

Chasing 208 to win, Gary Ballance and Harry Brook threatened briefly but after both fell in the 30s no other batter could pick up the pace and the Vikings were bowled out for 173 as Ben Mike took two wickets in the final over.

Opting to bat, the Foxes lost Josh Inglis in making 63 for 1 in the Powerplay, the Australian out to a tame return catch off a Joe Root full toss. Soon after reaching halfway at 98 for 1, Leicestershire saw Scott Steel run out for 32 after a mix-up with Lilley, and Ackermann dropped without scoring in the same over, albeit a difficult chance in the air to bowler Dom Bess. Ackermann cashed in, hoisting Jordan Thompson over deep midwicket for six.

Lilley, who reached fifty off 28 balls, cleared the rope off Matty Fisher, Matthew Waite twice, and clouted Root over long-on.

Ackermann hit a Thompson full toss out of the ground over midwicket but was fortunate when he tried to do likewise to Lockie Ferguson, Thompson taking the catch but stepping over the rope. After a Fisher slower ball bowled Ackermann, Lilley was unlucky not to become the eighth Foxes centurion in T20, twice seeing lofted shots drop just short of the rope in the final over.

Two wickets in three balls from Parkinson checked the Vikings' early progress as Jonny Tattersall hit straight to point and Adam Lyth was leg before sweeping but 58 for 2 in the Powerplay looked competitive.

Ballance was quickly striking the ball well but Parkinson struck another blow as Root hit a wide delivery to point to fall on 15 and after the Vikings reached halfway needing another 123 to win, Ballance chopped on to Steel's off-spin for 34.

George Hill holed out to deep midwicket and Thompson was bowled by Parkinson for a duck to leave 86 required from the last five overs, the Vikings' hopes effectively disappearing as Brook swung but was caught and bowled by Gavin Griffiths.