All the way towards T20 Blast glory

lot of all-rounders in the side which we have, it gives you lots of options.

“If we just brush off a few bits and pieces we can be a squad that can go on and win the tournament.

“There are a lot of guys who were in that 2015 squad still here, and we have a lot of experience, which is really important.

“And we have two very good overseas players which makes a big difference as well. It is a really good team. Maybe I will be jumping around in my towel again by the end of the tournament!

“Finals day we know is a brilliant day out having been there and it will be really special to do it again. But it is important to take it phase by phase – firstly we have to qualify for the next round.” Lancashire bowled spin in eight of their first nine overs, and 12 from their 20 in total as they used eight bowlers. And after Friday’s 20,000 sell-out against Yorkshire, Buttler admitted they struggled to up their intensity at the start of the game against Derbyshire.

“It was a solid win,” he said. “We probably could have been a little bit better in the field. On Friday night there were 20,000 people here and that brings a level of intensity, and I felt we needed to create a little bit more intensity ourselves. But all round it was a good bowling performance. I thought Matty Parkinson on debut bowled really well and it shows the value of leg-spin in T20. We got off to a great start with the bat so we were never under too much pressure with the run rate.” ●● Francis Chadwick ●● John Hindle