Lancashire showed why they’re top of the North Group with a strong run chase at a damp Wantage Road.
After heavy rain for most of the morning it was a surprise to many with both the toss and start happening on time. Nathan Buck and Luke Procter came into the side as Lancashire won the toss and elected to bowl.
It was a positive start for the Steelbacks with Levi and Rossington both finding the boundary in the early overs. The score moved to 33 in the fourth over before Levi’s top edge found the hands of third man. It was 41 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, Cobb the other man to fall when his pull picked out the man in the deep. Rossington and Wakely combined to add 43 for the third wicket before Livingstone dismissed both batsmen in back to back overs. Rossington first, caught at long on for 40 before the leg spinner slid one through Wakely for 22.
Keogh and Pretorius combined for the most productive partnership of the innings, the pair adding 55 in 5 overs. Pretorius looked in ominous form as he cleared the ropes 3 times in his 22 ball 38, Keogh too clearing the boundary as he posted 27* in 19. The innings fell away in the final couple of overs however, the Steelbacks finishing with 157/7 from their 20.
Alex Davies looked in fine touch as Lancashire came out swinging in their reply. The openers added 42 before Cobb struck in the fourth over of the innings, Livingstone caught on the midwicket boundary. Croft mirrored Davies’ form though as the pair stayed comfortably above the rate with a mixture of power and hard running. Croft fell in the 13th over when Faheem returned to the attack, the overseas quick blasting through to rattle Croft’s off stump.
Cobb tried 8 bowlers through the innings in search of the breakthroughs he needed but Lancashire had the answers. The visitors reaching the target in the 19th over with 8 wickets in hand.
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