Lilley leads the way – Vikings are vanquished
Leicestershire Foxes 207-3 beat Yorkshire Vikings 173 all out by 34 runs
LANCASTRIANS Arron Lilley and Callum Parkinson dealt North Group leaders Yorkshire Vikings a blow as Leicestershire Foxes chalked up a third successive Vitality Blast victory on Friday, writes Jon Culley.
Lilley just missed out on a maiden T20 hundred, but as the Foxes piled up 207 for three, his 99 not out off 55 balls with four sixes was a career best, while Parkinson took four for 35 with his left-arm spin.
Lilley shared a stand of 90 for the third wicket with skipper Colin Ackermann (40).
Chasing 208 to win, Gary Ballance and Harry Brook threatened briefly but after both fell in the 30s no other batter could pick up the pace and the Vikings were bowled out for 173, Ben Mike taking two wickets in the final over.
Opting to bat, the Foxes lost Josh Inglis in making 63 for one in the powerplay, the Australian out to a tame return catch to Joe Root.
Soon after reaching halfway at 98 for one, Leicestershire saw Scott Steel run out for 32 after a mix-up with Lilley.
Lilley, who reached 50 off 28 balls, cleared the rope off Matty Fisher, Matthew Waite twice and clouted Root over long-on.
Two wickets in three balls from Parkinson checked the Vikings’ early progress as Jonny Tattersall hit straight to point and Adam Lyth was leg before sweeping, but 58 for two in the powerplay looked competitive.
Root hit a wide delivery to point to fall on 15 but after the Vikings reached halfway needing 123 to win, Ballance chopped on for 34.
George Hill holed out to deep midwicket and Thompson was bowled by Parkinson for a duck. The Vikings’ hopes effectively disappearing as Brook was caught and bowled by Gavin Griffiths.
Leicestershire all-rounder Arron Lilley said: “It would have been nice to get over the line and get the 100.
“The main thing is the team won. Last year, we came with a late run and got to the quarter-finals.
“If we can win four or five of the last six games, we are still in with a sniff.”