Wrap of Thursday’s T20 Blast fixtures

South Group trio Middlesex, Essex and Gloucestershire all claimed their opening NatWest Blast T20 wins of the season on Thursday with the evening’s victories ranging from the dramatic to the comfortable.

Here, Press Association Sport wraps up the pick of the action.

Game of the day

The all-London showdown between Middlesex and Surrey at Lord’s came alive in dramatic fashion towards the end as the home side threatened to throw the game away. After limiting Surrey to 158 for nine with a fine bowling performance, Middlesex appeared to be cruising to victory as they reached 133 for three in the 16th over. However, a remarkable collapse left them suddenly staring at defeat as they were reduced to 153 for nine with last-pair Steven Finn and Tom Helm at the wicket. Fortunately for the home side, Ravi Rampaul conceded eight runs in his three balls at Finn as Middlesex snatched the win.

Tweet of the day

Player of the day

Cricket fans should enjoy the soon-to-be-retired Kumar Sangakkara while they still can, and the Sri Lanka superstar treated the Surrey faithful to another batting masterclass. The 39-year-old scored 70 off 42 balls, hitting three sixes and six fours along the way as he recorded the only half-century of the match in an hard-fought showdown in the capital. Fellow elder statesman Gareth Batty also showed what he can do with figures of four for 14 – including a double-wicket maiden to spark Middlesex’s collapse – but both he and Sangakkara ended up on the losing side.

Shot of the day

A day after Sussex’s David Wiese obliterated a spectator’s pint with a big six at Hove, Sangakkara wreaked further havoc in the stands when he cut a Finn delivery into the crowd at Lord’s – smashing the screen of unlucky fan’s mobile phone in the process.

Howell’s that!

Benny Howell has impressed with bat and ball in Gloucestershire’s unbeaten start to the competition, and he played a key role in Thursday’s victory over Kent, taking the key wickets of Sam Billings, Sam Northeast and Joe Denly en route to figures of four for 29 off his four overs. He then hit an invaluable 22 before falling just before the end of Gloucestershire’s successful run chase.

In Harmer’s way

South African Simon Harmer has run riot in the County Championship with 47 wickets already this season but batsmen do not look like getting any respite in the shortest format either. The 28-year-old Essex off-spinner took two for 21 in Sunday’s T20 defeat to Kent and added another three scalps in his fast-expanding tally against Somerset on Thursday night.