Brown scores century in losing cause

Karl Brown recorded a career-best score of 129, but Lancashire were beaten comfortably by Yorkshire Vikings in their inaugural match of the Royal London One-Day Cup by 47 runs.

The hosts posted 324-7, the highest List A total Lancashire have ever conceded at Old Trafford and this total proved to be too much for the hosts despite a superb innings from Brown, as the hosts were bowled out for 277.

Kane Williamson (70) and Alex Lees (66) led Yorkshire’s efforts with the bat, sharing 82 runs for the second-wicket partnership after Adam Lyth had struck 46 from 35 balls.

Lancashire struck a much-needed breakthrough to remove Lyth with the score at 69/1, but Williamson proved to be in fine touch for Yorkshire as the New Zealander struck a 66-ball fifty.

Lees also played a good innings for his side, recording his highest one-day score for Yorkshire before he was caught on the long-on boundary. Captain Andrew Gale added 38 and Tim Bresnan stuck a quick-fire 32 to ensure that the visitors posted a daunting target.

In reply, Lancashire’s start was far from ideal, as they stumbled to 57/3. Alex Davies in particular struggled in the early stages of the innings, making just 20 off 46. His struggle to find runs also forced pressure onto the likes of Usman Khawaja (22) and Ashwell Prince (10), who otherwise seemed in good touch.

Brown and Paul Horton (38) led the recovery with a 103-run partnership for the fourth-wicket as they slowly pulled Lancashire back in to contention. The pair batted superbly, but the task put before them was overwhelming and their resistance was eventually broken in unfortunate circumstances.

Horton was caught backing up too far at the non-strikers end and the bowler, Richard Pyrah, tipped the ball onto the stumps to end a resilient partnership. From that moment on, it became a single-handed effort from Brown, who played an entertaining innings including nine fours and two sixes.

Brown recorded only his third century for Lancashire in just 82 balls, but once he was bowled by Jack Brooks the result was beyond doubt, leading to the loss of six wickets for 64 runs.

There is certainly room for improvement for Lancashire in all three components based on today’s performance, but the hosts can take comfort from the fact that they were beaten comfortably in their first Twenty20 match of the season and finished top of the North Group. 

Lancs progress to quarter finals in style.

Khawaja top-scored on his t20 debut for Lancashire.

Lancashire claimed a 27-run victory over the Durham Jets in their final North Group match to secure their position at the top of the North Group ahead of the quarter finals of the Natwest t20 Blast.

The hosts amassed a healthy total of 164/8 after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, with Usman Khawaja (44) and Ashwell Prince (43) launching the Lightning towards this score, earning a partnership worth 84 for the first wicket inside eight overs.

Durham fought their way back superbly, claiming five wickets for 23 runs to restrict Lancashire's progress, but Steven Croft added 31 as the hosts posted a score which proved to be too much for the visitors.

With little more than pride resting on this match, Durham can take a lot of credit from the way their bowlers came back after Khawaja and Prince had obliterated the opposition, accumulating a powerplay score of 71/0.

At the same stage in their innings, Durham were in a desperate state at 27/2 and failed to recover from this position despite scoring 110 runs in the final 14 overs.

Gareth Breese (3-18) bowled particularly well for the visitors, removing both of Lancashire's openers and captain, Paul Horton (8) but his fellow bowlers did not have as much success after a wicketless Chris Rushworth was hit for 46 runs from his four-over allocation.

The visitors showed similar spirit in their run-chase, but were left lamenting a slow start with the bat, one which ultimately cost them the game. Many people have questioned how Lancashire will be able to continue to bowl economically without Junaid Khan, but Kabir Ali (3-19) showed that he is determined to lead the Lighting's bowling ranks, bringing his campaign total to 19 wickets.

Much like Breese did for Durham, Ali claimed crucial wickets, including Durham opener Phil Mustard, who was removed for 49 at a vital juncture in this game. Ali also removed Gordon Muchall (37) and Breese (17) to put the result beyond doubt and secure a tenth victory for Lancashire, as they finished the group stages with 22 points.

Ali was supported well by Lancashire's t20 debutant, Kyle Jarvis (2-25), who removed Callum Macleod (5) and Paul Collingwood (15) as the visitors struggled to match-up to Lancashire's fast start.

Lancs secure home tie with emphatic win over Derby.

Prince equalled the club record for the fastest fifty in this format.

Lancashire Lightning have secured a home tie in the quarter finals of the Natwest T20 Blast after achieving a 35-run victory over Derbyshire Falcons in a high-scoring affair at Emirates Old Trafford.

The hosts posted a monolithic total of 225/7 in 20 overs, with Ashwell Prince (56) equalling the club record for the fastest fifty, reaching this milestone in just 22 deliveries as he and Karl Brown (58) added 89 runs for the second-wicket in just under eight overs.

Derbyshire's misery in the field was compounded by Jos Buttler, who added a brisk 39 as well as captain Paul Horton (24*), who struck three sixes in his seven-ball stay at the crease having come in to bat at number nine.

In reply, the Falcons gave it their all, reaching 190/7 as captain Wayne Madsen top-scored with 45 after openers Wes Durston (30) and Marcus North (41) helped the visitors to post a powerplay score of 56/1.

But the run rate continued to climb and their task proved to be too much, particularly with Junaid Khan at the helm. He signed-off in style in his final match for Lancashire this season, claiming 2-30 to finish the campaign with 19 wickets from ten matches.

There were early signs of Lancashire's intent with the bat, Tom Smith three boundaries in his short stay at the crease before Prince took charge and smashed four sixes on his way to a record-equalling fifty.

It was the third time this season where a Lancashire player had scored a 22-ball fifty and was essential in helping the hosts to post a powerplay score of 66/1 despite the early loss of Smith for 13.

Brown showed similar disdain for Derbyshire's bowlers, hitting three sixes in his innings of 58 from 34 balls. Lancashire's quest for an unassailable score saw the hosts lose four wickets for 27 runs, Mark Turner returning figures of 3-51, but a late surge from Horton sunk the fleeting hopes of the Derbyshire squad, who were subjected to a brutal display from a rampant Lancashire outfit.

Derbyshire have won just one match in the campaign so far and would have been forgiven for giving up easily with a target of 226 to win, but the visitors showed a great deal of character to stay in contention for so long.

The visitors also showed early intent thanks to Durston and North, who replicated Lancashire's efforts in taking advantage of the short boundary. The introduction of Khan brought Lancashire a timely breakthrough with the score at 55/1 and as wickets continued to fall, Derbyshire's chances for achieving an unlikely victory were thwarted.

Former Lancashire player, Gareth Cross, showed promise before being run out for 17, but the loss of wickets at regular intervals continued to hurt Derby in their search for runs. Steven Croft afforded just 19 runs in his three-over allocation and picked up the wicket of North to end Derbyshire's greatest cause for victory.

In Andrew Flintoff's absence, Wayne White gave a reassuring display, claiming 2-31 including the wicket of Madsen in the closing stages of Derbyshire's innings.

Needing 46 runs to win, Derbyshire knew that they were facing a formality, but were made to suffer further, as Khan delivered the final over of the match to wrap-up a comfortable victory for Lancashire, their ninth in 13 matches.

Photos from third day of Lancashire vs. Nottinghamshire LVCC