Lightning start to get boulder rolling in Blast
LIAM Livingstone believes Lancashire have got their ‘boulder rolling’ again...but insists their best is yet to come.
Lightning moved up to second in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group after a comprehensive 31-run win over Durham at Emirates Old Trafford.
In 2015, the ‘boulder rolling’ mantra helped Lancashire all the way to their first T20 title.
And now with just one defeat from their opening six group games, Lightning are gaining the sort of momentum needed to succeed in the shortest form of the game.
But Livingstone, who was man of the match with a T20 career-best of 61 off just 42 balls, believes their best is yet to come.
“Durham can be a tricky side at times, so it was a very good win,” he said.
“They’ve got some dangerous players so to get over the line is nice and we’ve got to try and keep the boulder rolling now.
“At the start of the competition you strive to have the same XI playing and get on a roll. Everyone knows their role. We’ve got players like Jordan Clark who, I think, has faced one ball so far in the tournament and to have people like that who are there when we need them is great for our side.
“The boys are working hard to get towards our full potential. We’re nowhere near that yet, and we know that, but it’s exciting when we are winning games and not yet at our full potential. It’s a great environment at the moment.”
Livingstone helped Lancashire to 174-5 from their 20 overs, but it was in the last six overs of their innings in which they turned the screw as skipper Steven Croft and Ryan McLaren put on an unbeaten 64 in 37 balls for the sixth wicket.
Leg spinner Matthew Parkinson then impressed again, taking 2-23 as Durham were restricted to 143-8 from their 20 overs.
Clark also claimed 3-36 including the key wicket of Paul Collingwood – and McLaren 2-35.
“It was one of those days where we had to get a total that was defendable, and then we just pass it over to the bowlers who did their usual job and were as reliable as ever,” said Livingstone. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence really that we have a good record at Old Trafford. We use it to our advantage and in the field try and cut the twos off but still be close enough to save the boundary.
“We try and play to our strengths here and we’ve played a lot of T20 cricket here to know how to play. So we use our home advantage more than most teams I think.”
Lancashire now visit Derbyshire on Tuesday.