YORKSHIRE took a significant step towards the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast with a 24-run win over struggling Durham at Headingley.

The Vikings comfortably defended a Jets target of 153 on a sluggish pitch as Bradfordian Adil Rashid starred with career-best figures of 4-19 in a game dominated by the bowlers.

Yorkshire now sit top of the North Group table with ten points from seven matches, having won three home fixtures in six days.

In fact, they have won their last eight home Blast matches dating back to the start of last year.

It means they are on course for a place in the top two, which would normally bring with it a home last-eight tie.

But given the dates for the quarter-finals clash with the Test between England and West Indies at Headingley late next month, Yorkshire will have to forfeit that right and play away instead.

That news came as part of a busy night off the field. Before the match, Yorkshire confirmed the signing of Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed as a replacement for Peter Handscomb for the last five group games and the knockouts should they progress.

Australian Test batsman Handscomb scored seven before being stumped off Paul Collingwood in his last home game of the season.

But he will play in the weekend away matches against Birmingham and Nottinghamshire on Friday and Sunday.

He will then return home to Melbourne ahead of a national training camp for the potential Test tour to Bangladesh next month.

Sarfraz, the 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, captained Pakistan to Champions Trophy success in England last month.

He will debut against Derbyshire at Headingley next Thursday, subject to obtaining his visa.

"I've always wanted to play county cricket, so this is an exciting opportunity for me," said Sarfraz.

"Yorkshire are a big club with a rich history and a huge reputation. I'm proud to be following in the footsteps of other Pakistanis who have played at Headingley like Younus Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

"It's a dream come true for me and hopefully it can help me become an even better professional.

"I hope I can contribute to some victories while I'm there and provide the crowd with the sort of entertainment they're looking for. I look forward to having a taste of the T20 Blast."

Sarfraz has only been signed to play T20, so Shaun Marsh will play in the last five Championship matches of the summer.

Yorkshire elected to bat against Durham but they slipped to 1-2 in the second over as they lost openers Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

David Willey continued his excellent form with four sixes in whacking 44, while Marsh's 36 was next best.

Collingwood struck three times for a Durham side looking to avoid a sixth straight defeat this season – and the Jets did bowl well to leave them in a healthy position at the innings break.

Willey conceded ten runs form the first over but from then on it was all Yorkshire.

Tim Bresnan shared the new ball and bowled two maidens before Rashid really turned the screw.

He had Collingwood caught at deep square-leg, Michael Richardson bowled, Jack Burnham stumped and Paul Coughlin caught at long-on as the score fell to 73-6 in the 14th over.

Not surprisingly, Durham failed to get 50 off the last three overs and finished on 128-7.