Red Rose Blast into quarters
CHRIS OSTICK LANCASHIRE secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast by thrashing Group North leaders Durham Jets.
The Red Rose bowled out the home side for just 78, having at one point had them 4-4.
It is Durham’s lowest total in the competition, and Lancashire’s bowling performance was even more remarkable considering their opponents had won eight of their last nine matches.
Lancashire made a troubled start to their innings after being put in under heavy skies following rain at Chester-le-Street. But they recovered from 6-2 through Alex Davies’s sixth half-century from 12 innings. His 64 contained only six fours, but his bustling style kept the score ticking over before he fell to the last ball of the innings.
Only two came off Chris Rushworth’s opening over then Karl Brown drove at Mark Wood’s second ball and lost his off stump.
Four balls later a wild heave across the line resulted in Aaron Lilley edging behind and only 14 came from the first four overs.
Davies and Dane Vilas cut loose with 27 off the next two, only for Vilas to drive Nathan Rimmington’s first ball and edge a second catch to Stuart Poynter.
The same combination accounted for Jordan Clark. Steven Croft contributed 30 to a stand of 47 before skying Rimmington to short fine leg and the Australian finished with 4-28 when Davies fell.
James Faulkner had Durham skipper Tom Latham caught behind third ball. Will Smith edged a drive and Graham Clark went the same way.
Paul Collingwood drove Lester straight to short extra cover, Matt Parkinson accepted a return catch off his first ball to remove Poynter.
The leg-spinner finished with three for 19 and 19-year-old Afghan Zahir Khan wrapped it up with 2-8. ●● Ryan Miskella sends one down for Littleborough