Durham Vs. Lancashire FLT20

Lightning strike in T20 opener.

Stephen Moore's innings of 75 led
Lancashire to victory.

Lancashire got off to the perfect start in their first Friend's Life T20 match, marginally defeating the Durham Dynamos by nine runs. Stephen Moore's innings of 75 helped the visitors to a thoroughly competitive total of 165-3, before debutant Mitch McClenaghan took 3-35 in Durham's response.

Forcing Lancashire to bat first, Durham had little success in their attempts to restrain the visitors score, with the Lightning reaching 77 before they lost their first wicket. The in-form Ashwell Prince added 32 before he was dismissed by Ryan Pringle (2-24) who followed

up with the wicket of Steven Croft (10).

Simon Katich (43*) then supported Moore, as Lancashire added a healthy 68 for the third-wicket stand, before the latter was run out with the score at 162.

Durham's reply was, initially, belligerent with Mark Stoneman and Phil Mustard (19) mustering a fifty partnership in little time. Croft managed a direct-hit run out, removing the former for 33, before Glen Chapple dismissed the Durham keeper for no additional score.

Now 53-2 Durham's chase began to slow down severely and the regular loss of wickets continued to hurt their chances. Chapple continued to make in-roads, removing Scott Borthwick for just one, as he finished with 2-22.

McClenaghan's opening spell proved tough, but his return acquired three key wickets, including that of Durham's top-scorer, Ben Stokes, who hit 34. The New-Zealander broke a forty-run stand between Stokes and Gordon Muchall, forcing the latter to edge to Tom Smith for 14.

Needing 17 runs from the last over, Durham's task proved to be to great, managing just eight of the required runs, as the loss of wickets fully took its toll.