Thursday 23 July 2015 01:03, UK
Lancashire Lightning gave their NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final qualification hopes a huge boost when they defeated Birmingham Bears by eight runs at Edgbaston.
Skipper Steven Croft produced a superb all-round display to help the visitors claim two precious points while Birmingham have work to do if they are to secure a home quarter-final, although they are already assured of a place in the last eight.
Batting first, Lancashire started slowly against the likes of Jeetan Patel (2-14) but recovered from 34-4 to post 145-6, mainly thanks to Croft, who made an unbeaten 64 from 51 balls.
Brendon McCullum then got the Bears reply off to a superb start with 41 off 25, only for Croft (2-16) to remove Tom Lewis (22) and McCullum with successive deliveries in his first over.
Not yet content with his efforts, that man Croft then took a superb catch, full stretch at point, to remove Laurie Evans (13), and James Faulkner finished with 3-19 as Birmingham were dismissed for 137.
Elsewhere in the North Group, Worcestershire beat Derbyshire by four wickets with three balls left in a tight contest to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Saeed Ajmal took 2-21 when Derbyshire batted first but the Falcons managed to post 149-8, led by skipper Wes Durston (32) and Billy Godleman (33).
Opener Richard Oliver (45) and Colin Munro (30) then kept Worcestershire in the hunt against some tight bowling (Alex Hughes 2-21, Nathan Rimmington 2-34) and Joe Leach made 18 not out off 12 balls to get them home.
Northamptonshire remain on course for a spot in the quarter-finals after getting past Yorkshire by six wickets at Wantage Road.
Opener Alex Lees top-scored for Yorkshire with 46 as the visitors made 153-7 but Northants were always in control after their openers Richard Levi (30 off 14) and David Willey (34 off 28) both made useful contributions.
Skipper Alex Wakely kept them on course with 46 and the hosts got home with an over to spare as Ben Duckett managed a career T20 best 40 not out from 26 balls.
Nottinghamshire Outlaws have a chance of snatching the final qualification place from the group after they beat Durham Jets by 42 runs at Chester-le-Street thanks to a brilliant Riki Wessels knock.
The Outlaws were looking for a third win in a row and Wessels smashed 97 off just 51 balls as they reached 198-5, Michael Lumb (31) and James Taylor (37) also weighing in.
Durham could only manage 156-6 in response, despite some big-hitting late on from John Hastings (42 off 22) and they cannot reach the knock-out stages after this defeat.
