Old pal’s axe falls on Lancashire campaign

T20 BLAST LANCASHIRE were put to the sword by former Reds Rose player Luis Reece as their NatWest T20 Blast campaign came to a shuddering halt at Derby.

The batsman, who was released by the county at the end of last season after four years at Old Trafford, smashed an unbeaten 97 from just 55 balls to help Derbyshire to a 35-run win.

Reece hit 10 fours and four sixes and with Daryn Smit, who made 42 from 20 deliveries, added 77 in seven overs to take the Falcons to an imposing 211-5.

Liam Livingstone threatened to chase that down by smashing five sixes in an 18 ball 44, and Karl Brown made a quickfired 41, but Lancashire lost regular wickets and finished way short on 176-9 as they suffered only their second defeat of the T20 campaign.

Reece struck the ball cleanly from the start, driving Ryan McLaren straight for six and pulling him for four as 59 came from the first five overs.

Reece dispatched Jordan Clark over the midwicket boundary and drove Matt Parkinson for a third six before Stephen Parry removed the dangerous Wayne Madsen who missed a reverse sweep in the ninth over.

The Falcons were well placed at 103-3 at the halfway point and although Gary Wilson was stumped charging at Parry, Reece drove Parkinson for his fourth six after reaching 50 from 26 balls. Arron Lilley had Alex Hughes stumped in the 14th over, but Smit joined Reece to take the Falcons past 200.

Both batsmen improvised well with Smit plundering three consecutive fours from Khan as 62 came from the last six overs.

Livingstone moved into overdrive from the off, pulling and cutting Matt