Lancs head west with spring in their step

DANE VILAS and his Lancashire side decamp to Liverpool hoping to keep up a run of form that’s seen Lightning produce a promising start in the Vitality T20 Blast North Group.

Today’s clash is with Derbyshire Falcons, the side whom Vilas’s side edged out by four runs on Monday evening at Headingley.

Sunday sees the start of a four-day Bob Willis Trophy match against the same opposition. Like so much this season, the extended road trip will be a test of the Lancashire players’ adaptability – as well as the endurance of the Aigburth square.

After thumping Durham Dynamos courtesy of Keaton Jennings’ century, and having the better of rain-ruined game against Leicestershire Foxes, Lightning were almost brought back to Earth on Monday in the final over of a match they’d dominated.

Lancs’ 178/5, courtesy of Alex Davies’ 82, looked like it would be plenty when Tom Bailey ran in to bowl the final over, with 19 still required. But the first two balls went for a six and a two, before a slip from Vilas at deep square leg turned a three into a four.

It’s the sort of situation in which captains find out what their bowlers are made of – and Bailey delivered, his last three balls yielding just a scampered leg-bye, a smart run-out by Davies and a futile single.

Vilas said: “I think we made it difficult for ourselves with a few poor overs here and there – but if you’re not playing 100% and you get over the line, that’s really good, especially in competitions like this. I feel we could have won the game a little bit earlier, by a few more runs.

“Defending 19 off the last over, you’re in a great position – until the first one goes out of the park, then it gets a bit tight.

“Needing seven off the last three is tighter than we wanted but the way Tom has stepped up to the plate in T20 has been fantastic.”

Bailey’s ascendency in the shortest format has only come about due to the absence of the likes of Saqib Mahmood, Richard Gleeson and Luke Wood to a combination of

England and injuries.

“The main thread of this season has been opportunities for everyone,” said Vilas. “Tom is a class bowler – his four-day stuff has been outstanding in the last couple of years, but the way he’s stepped up in the three games he’s played has been incredible.”

The Lancashire squad is not short of options, particularly in the bowling department, and Vilas didn’t rule out making a few tweaks once he’s had a look at the Aigburth wicket – traditionally, whatever tradition is worth this year, beloved of batsmen and spinners, in that order, with seamers a distant third.

“We’ve got a few guys waiting in the wings,” said Vilas.

“Guys like Stephen Parry, who hasn’t managed to get into a game, and Woody is going to have another fitness test.

“But at the same time, it’s hard to change a side that’s played well and won two from their three games – we’ve been very consistent.

“There might be a few minor tweaks here and there, but nothing wholesale.”