Parkinson wants Blast boost to Lancashire survival fight

LANCASHIRE are hoping their run to Finals Day in the Vitality Blast can help boost their form in the County Championship.

Bottom of Specsavers Division One with only one win from 10 games, the Red Rose county’s campaign has reached its crunch point.

They host second-bottom Worcestershire at Southport, starting on Wednesday, and it is realistically a must win.

Lancashire have four to play, one fewer than all of their rivals, and they are 11 points from safety.

Unfortunately, last week they lost by six runs to leaders Surrey at the Oval.

The following day, on Thursday, they beat Kent at Canterbury to secure their seventh Finals Day appearance.

That particular performance, says leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson, was a reminder to their critics that the squad are still capable of achieving a positive end to summer.

“I think there’s been a small section of the support that’s been questioning the commitment and the desire of the lads because we’ve not had the season we’d like so far,” said the England Lions man.

“But you can see the effort’s there and the class is there when we all perform.

“Fingers crossed we can take this momentum into Finals Day and also into the last four Championship games.”

Lancashire will face Worcestershire Rapids in next month’s semi-final at Edgbaston. The other semi-final will be between Sussex Sharks and the winners of the Somerset versus Notts Outlaws clash today.