Livingstone Blasts the fastest T20 ton in Red Rose history
LIAM Livingstone smashed the fastest century in Lancashire T20 history as the Red Rose blew Derbyshire away in the Vitality Blast.
The Lightning skipper reached 100 from just 49 balls, becoming only the fifth player to score a ton for the county in the format following Alviro Petersen, Lou Vincent, Stuart Law and Mal Loye.
He reached 50 off only 28 deliveries, and smashed nine fours and seven sixes before he was caught at slip off the bowling of Wahab Riaz in the 15th over on exactly 100.
The previous quickest was Peterson’s against Leicestershire in 2016 from 52 balls.
It meant Lancashire eased to a nine-wicket win with more than 5.3 overs to spare, with Alex Davies making an unbeaten 50 from 35 balls, as they coasted past Derbyshire’s 161-4 at the 3aaa County Ground.
It was the perfect response from Lancashire, who lost their opening game to Worcestershire at Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday.
And it was a day to remember for Toby Lester, who took 1-10 from his three overs on his T20 debut for Lancashire.
Livingstone was quick to praise his bowlers.
“All the credit goes to them,” he said. “They bowled a perfect length for that wicket.
“Toby (Lester) bowled beautifully and he’s been doing that for a long while now, he deserved his chance and he took it with both hands.
“We needed to respond and we did it in the perfect way, that was close to a perfect performance.”
Lancashire return to Old Trafford tomorrow to take on Northamptonshire in the Blast.