A stunning unbeaten century from veteran opener Adam Lyth helped Yorkshire beat Leicestershire Foxes by 41 runs at Headingley and move to the verge of quarter-final qualification in the Vitality Blast.

Lyth posted 131 not out off 64 balls as Yorkshire made 207 for 4, sharing 91 for the first wicket with captain Jonny Bairstow, to set up a sixth win in 10 games for a side who started the day second in the North Group.

England allrounder Rehan Ahmed struck three times with his legspin for Leicestershire, whose chase fell from 50 without loss in the fourth over to 59 for 4 in the sixth to all but end their chances.

Rehan contributed 30 with the bat for a Leicestershire side whose quarter-final hopes are all but over following a sixth defeat in nine. Ben Cox top-scored with 47 off 34 balls in 166 for nine, while AJ Tye‘s skilful seam accounted for 4 for 15. Pakistan seamer Hasan Ali also impressed with 4 for 25.

Yorkshire started well as Lyth pulled Alex Green’s seam for six over deep midwicket en route to 50 without loss after five overs. Lyth reached 50 shortly before Bairstow, who lacked rhythm for 28, was lbw to Rehan in the 10th over.

Rehan removed Will Luxton in his next over – 103 for 2 in the 12th – and later Moeen Ali. But Lyth powered on towards a second career T20 century and first since 2017.

This used pitch was good for batting. Lyth reached his century off 55 balls with a six over long-on off a Ben Green full toss in the 18th over and then clubbed two more as 24 came off Josh Hull in the final over of the innings.

Lyth now has the two highest individual scores in Yorkshire’s T20 history having hit 161 against Northamptonshire here in 2017.

Opener Rishi Patel crashed four leg-side sixes in 34 off 14 balls as Leicestershire raced to 50 without loss early in the fourth over of their chase. But he miscued Australian Tye to mid-on and Steve Eskinazi was bowled by Hasan with no further addition to the score. Then, in the sixth over, Tye had Nick Kelly caught at cover and fellow West Australian Ashton Turner caught behind next ball.

At 59 for 4, Leicestershire had the mountain of all mountains to climb just when it seemed as if they were right in the contest.

Rehan played nicely in a bid to rectify things and found a partner in Cox. However, that four-wicket powerplay burst had just done too much damage. Their 52-stand needed to be doubled at least, but Rehan holed out to long-on off Matthew Revis – 111 for 5 in the 12th.

Cox miscued Hasan’s seam to mid-off before Tye struck again to oust Ben Green. And that really was that at 159 for 7 in the 18th. Hasan struck twice more late on and also finished with two catches.