James Anderson stars for Lancashire in remarkable return to T20 cricket after 11 years

The 42-year-old returned career-best figures of 3-17 from four overs in Lancashire’s dramatic win over Durham

James Anderson impressed on a long-awaited return to the T20 Blast (PA)

James Anderson took three wickets in his first T20 match for 11 years as Lancashire beat Durham at Chester-le-Street to claim a third consecutive Vitality Blast North Group win.

The 42-year-old former England seamer had not played a sprint-format match since the Red Rose faced Warwickshire at Edgbaston in August 2014.

But, having retired from international duty, Anderson returned with a bang by returning figures of three for 17 from four overs to help Lancashire limit the hosts to 150 for six.

Michael Jones hit 55 before Jack Blatherwick’s single from the final delivery then took Lancashire home by four wickets.

Worcestershire condemned Yorkshire to a second consecutive loss, winning by 60 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at New Road.

The Pears racked up 201 for five after 79 from Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose’s 54, with Yorkshire slipping to 51 for six before eventually making 135 for eight when the rain arrived.

Ben Sanderson took four for 15 as Northamptonshire won again, beating Leicestershire by five wickets at Wantage Road.

After Sanderson and David Willey (three for 20) helped limit the Foxes to 122, Ravi Bopara’s unbeaten 46 helped Northants win with four balls remaining.

Sussex skittled Gloucestershire for 93 to win their South Group clash by 80 runs at Hove.

Tom Alsop’s 58 had lifted the home side to 173 before Tymal Mills took three for 13 to help dismiss Gloucestershire in 13.3 overs.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Somerset sit alongside Sussex at the top after beating Essex by eight wickets at Chelmsford.

Dean Elgar and Matt Critchley hit half-centuries in Essex’s 148, but Will Smeed blasted 81 not out off 54 balls to motor 2024 runners-up Somerset to victory.

Asa Tribe and Dan Douthwaite guided Glamorgan to a five-wicket win over Middlesex at Northwood.

Middlesex could only manage 124 for nine after Mason Crane claimed four for 28.

Glamorgan were struggling on 64 for five in the 10th over until Tribe and Douthwaite, with 40 and 31 respectively, shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 64.

PA