MANCHESTER: A collective effort from the bowlers kept Worcestershire to just 127 before Lancashire batsmen polished off the chase in 17.3 overs to seal a seven-wicket win at Old Trafford in Manchester in the North Group Natwest T20 Blast game on Wednesday. Brett D’Oliveira scored 30 to take Worcestershire over the 120-run mark in what turned out to a poor day at the office for them.
Put in, regular wickets meant Worcestershire weren’t able to gather enough momentum for a late assault. 49 for 2 soon became 50 for 4 with Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner falling in space of four balls to leave the visitors in trouble.
Ben Cox struggled and so did the other lower order batsmen but Ed Barnard picked up 13 off 7 in the last few overs to stretch the team total a touch. Junaid Khan was incisive and picked up two wickets for just 27 while Arron Lilley ended with 2 for 18 from his three overs. Stephen Parry, Matthew Parkinson and Ryan McLaren bagged a wicket each to tighten the noose on the game.
Apart from Junaid’s brilliant effort, Lilley scored a 24-ball 33 to give Lancashire the advantage before Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler collaborated for a 76-run stand to shut the door on the visitors. Livingstone made 36 while Buttler stayed for 40 deliveries for his unbeaten 52 to see his team cruise past the finish line.
