Lightning fall short in final over drama
CRICKET LANCASHIRE snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as their hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Vitality Blast took a knock last night.
Needing just six to win from the final over against Durham, they lost three wickets and scored just one run as they slipped to a four-run defeat at Emirates Old Trafford.
It leaves them fourth in the North Group after 10 games, and they head to Headingley tomorrow to take on third-place Yorkshire desperate for a victory.
Having restricted second-placed Durham to 154-7 in their 20 overs, Lancashire looked to be on course for victory after a blistering start from Alex Davies, who made 53 from 33 balls.
Lightning needed 63 off the last 10 overs with six wickets left, but stuttered in the second half of the chase and finished on 150-9 after a stunning final over from left-arm BY NEAL WILKINSON & SHELDAN KEAY
BACUP travelled to Great Harwood hoping to extend their three-match unbeaten run.
Having won the toss, Harwood batted first and put on 128 for the first wicket in quick time, with veterans Alan Armer making 66 and Mas Ahmed 50.
The Bacup professional Ernest Kemm took 3 for 66 from his 15 overs while Jack Bradford bowled a good spell of 1 for 29 from 9 overs to stem the tide.
However, a late surge of runs from Harwood professional Ashen Silva, who finished undefeated on 64, meant that they finished on 244 for 5.
In reply Bacup started rather too slowly and left themselves too much to do.
Kemm took a while to get into stride, but just as he was threatening to mount a challenge, he was run out for 77.
Skipper Aaron Fielding made a valiant effort with 57 not out, and there were useful contributions from Collinge (18), Donovan (19) and Jack Bradford (22 not out).
However, Bacup fell 26 runs short, finishing on 218 for 6, picking up three bonus points for their efforts.
Meanwhile, the second eleven at Lanehead picked up the maximum 12 points in an exciting three-wicket victory.
Great Harwood were bowled out for 175 in 36 overs. There were two wickets apiece for Shepherd, Aspinall and Benson with the tail being mopped up by Dom Boardman with figures of 4 for 13. The run chase was a team effort with good contributions from Knights (29), Syers (28), Thompson (23) and Shepherd 26 not out) taking Bacup to victory with 10 spinner Liam Trevaskis, who finished with 4-16.
Earlier, Lancashire’s new Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan impressed with 2-19 on his debut.
The 19-year-old, bowling left-arm chinaman, has signed for the rest of the season on Jos Buttler’s recommendation having been squad mates at overs to spare.
RAMSBOTTOM continued their good run of form after picking up an 85-run victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Ramsbottom won the toss and decided to bat, with Rehan Udwadia top scoring for the side after hitting 94 from 114 balls.
Professional Werner Coetsee also chipped in with 41 as Ramsbottom finished on 246-5 at the end of their innings.
Burnley got off to a decent start in reply, with the team 81-2 after Liam Bedford hit 46 and Joe Marshall added 22, but a collapse soon followed as only one other batsmen managed to reach double figures. It meant they were bowled all out for 161, with Coetsee also impressing with the ball as he finished with figures of 4-38 to help Ramsbottom pick up a big win.
HASLINGDEN also picked up an emphatic victory after defeating Rishton by 183 runs at Bentgate.
Haslingden batted first after winning the toss, with Graham Knowles top scoring with 86.
Professional Kamran Ghulam also added 69, and it looked like Haslingden were on course for a big score after they were 214-3 at one stage. There were several wickets to fall though during the back end of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL earlier this summer.
He finished with identical figures to young seamer Danny Lamb, who was one of the three Lightning players to fall to Trevaskis in that dramatic conclusion.
Khan bowled Trevaskis around his legs as he tried to sweep and trapping innings, with Haslingden ending on 249-7 after 50 overs.
Rishton were extremely poor in their reply, despite opening Sajid Patel making an unbeaten 43 from Paul Collingwood lbw.
“They did incredibly well and stayed in the game,” said Dane Vilas, who captained Lancashire in the absence of injured Liam Livingstone.
“They kept putting on pressure, and it shows that you’re never really out of it. We’re bitterly disappointed.