Derbyshire Falcons recorded their first win of the 2014 T20 Blast competition by beating Birmingham Bears on a Friday night where the action was restricted by rain.
Wes Durston smashed a rapid 50, but Derbyshire lost regular wickets in their chase of Birmingham's 189-5, which they reached thanks to 74 from William Porterfield, 35 from Varun Chopra and 50 from Jonathon Webb.
The Falcons were 143-6 before Alex Hughes smashed two sixes and two fours in a 10-ball knock of 24, and Tony Palladino and David Wainwright saw them over the line with three wickets and an over to spare.
Essex Eagles have fared much better than Derbyshire, and they beat Somerset by eight wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis method to cruise to a fifth consecutive victory and stay top of the South Division.
Somerset made 150-7, with Craig Kieswetter top scoring with 40, and the Eagles, who had Mark Pettini star with 60 not out, were ahead of the rate on 125-2 after 16 overs when the wet weather arrived in Taunton.
Rain meant that there was no play between Worcestershire Rapids and Nottinghamshire Outlaws at New Road, or at Headingley, where Yorkshire Vikings were due to host Lancashire Lightning in the Roses derby.
It also brought a premature end to Durham Jets' match at Northants Steelbacks, where two wickets for Oli Stone reduced the visitors to 69-4 before the covers had to be brought on, and never came off.
The South got the better of the conditions, and Surrey revelled in them by thrashing Hampshire by eight wickets to knock the two-time winners off the top of the division, and climb to third themselves.
Kevin Pietersen made a season's best 24 not out, but was outshone by Jason Roy, who recorded his fourth successive T20 half-century as Surrey chased down 131-9 with six overs remaining.
Sussex Sharks are one place behind the Londoners in the table, and also won convincingly at bottom side Middlesex Panthers, who were bowled out for 107, with Lewis Hatchett and Will Beer claiming three wickets apiece. Chris Nash thumped an unbeaten 74 as Sussex made quick work of knocking off their modest target.
It was a much closer affair at Bristol, where the scores were tied going into the final ball, before Adam Rouse struck a four to see Gloucestershire victorious over Kent Spitfires by three wickets.
Rouse top scored with 35 off 16 balls, coming in at number seven, as the home side just managed to knock off Kent's total of 150-6, in which Sam Northeast starred with 75 from 49 balls.
Full results:
Gloucestershire (154-7) beat Kent Spitfires (150-6) by three wickets.
Essex Eagles (125-2) beat Somerset (150-7) by eight wickets (D/L).
Worcestershire Rapids vs. Nottinghamshire Outlaws - no result.
Yorkshire Vikings vs. Lancashire Lightning - no result.
Durham Jets (69-4) vs. Northants Steelbacks - no result.
Surrey (137-2) beat Hampshire (131-9) by eight wickets.
Sussex Sharks (110-4) beat Middlesex Panthers (107 a/o) by six wickets.
Derbyshire Falcons (193-7) beat Birmingham Bears (189-5) by three wickets.
Joe Fish
