Ace Lilley is not the only bright spark at Lightning
NORTH ROUND-UP
ARRON Lilley may have been named man of the match as LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING kept their T20 Blast qualification hopes alive on Wednesday evening but he credits his fellow spinners’ economical bowling for the seven-wicket win over lowly WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS.
Lilley took 2-18 from three overs, while slow left-armer Stephen Parry (1-17 at 4.25 runs an over) and young leggie Matt Parkinson (1-14 at 3.5 runs per) also helped restrict Worcestershire to 127-8.
And the Lightning cruised home with 15 balls remaining in response, Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 52 dovetailing with Lilley’s quickfire 33 and Liam Livingstone’s 36 to keep the Red Rose county in the hunt for a top-four spot.
“It was a great win, and a great first half of the game bowling-wise,” said Lilley. “Parky (Parkinson) and Pazza (Parry) bowled really well up top.
“I’ve played a few secondteam games with Parky and know he’s got the ability. He’s proved he can bowl really well and all credit to him, he’s come into the side and done really well.
“Batting at three has its ups and downs, but my role is to try and get on with the game and then, after the first six overs, play as a normal batsman, so I’m enjoying it.”
On Tuesday, DERBYSHIRE FALCONS put themselves on the verge of a quarter-final place with a three-wicket win over bottom-of-the-table DURHAM JETS.
Stuart Poynter made a composed, unbeaten 61 as Durham set a challenging total of 161-7 but Luis Reece’s 66 from 49 balls anchored the Falcons’ innings and they got home with three balls to spare.
“Luis has been absolutely brilliant, he quietly goes about his business and he’s an unassuming character but once he walks over the ropes, he’s led our batting nicely,” said stand-in Derbyshire captain Daryn Smit.
“He’s quite humble and calm and not always bubbly and bouncing around out there but he’s got a wise head and that’s showed.”
The Rapids had lost both of their previous two t20 games in the past week with an 11run defeat to NOTTINGHAMSHIRE OUTLAWS on Sunday, following a 13-run loss to Durham on Friday.
By contrast, it was a good week for the Outlaws, who have lost just three of their 13 games, with Samit Patel’s unbeaten 77 also helping them to a five-wicket win over BIRMINGHAM BEARS.
Elsewhere, LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES and YORKSHIRE VIKINGS recorded successes over NORTHAMPTONSHIRE and Lancashire on Friday night, with the Foxes going on to beat the Vikings by four wickets the following day.