MATCH REPORT: Lancashire fightback to clinch seven-run win against Durham
Lancashire produced a battling bowling display to win a rain-shortened Vitality Blast match against Durham by 7 runs after a record century partnership by the visitors opening pair Alex Lees and Michael Jones had threatened to chase down the Lightning’s impressive 195-7.
The Lightning’s big total had been underpinned by half centuries from Luke Wells and Daryl Mitchell, and it was Wells’ excellent four over spell of 2-19 that had dragged Lancashire back into a game that looked to be slipping away when Durham’s opening pair were rattling along in the 14th over on 125 without loss - the highest opening partnership against Lancashire in T20 cricket.
Lees and Jones had both made chanceless half centuries, skipper Lees reaching the landmark from 36 balls (with one six and eight fours) and Jones taking one ball less, but Jones holed out to Bell at midwicket off Wells at that point with 71 required off 40 balls and the Lightning attacked seized their opportunity.
Rain had threatened to end the game early throughout the Durham innings with both teams paying great attention to the Duckworth-Lewis-Sten par scores, with Durham ahead throughout but with the margin dropping once Wells, along with Mitchell, had squeezed the run scoring.
And when Ashton Turner hit Wells to Mitchell at long on for 4, Lancashire were ahead on DLS for the first time with Durham 136-2 two balls into the 16th over.
With 57 needed from four overs, Lees hit out but skied the last ball of the 17th over from Mitchell high to Jos Buttler to depart for 78 leaving Durham 150-3 at which point the heavens opened and Lancashire were home on DLS by a very slender margin.
The game had started with an explosive first over from Durham overseas all-rounder Wayne Parnell who reduced Lancashire to 6-2 with Phil Salt edging behind first ball and Colin De Grandhomme lbw to an excellent inswinger for 6.
Buttler led the fightback scooping Brandon Glover for four and six from consecutive balls before driving a further maximum over long-off as the Lightning ended the powerplay in better shape on 46-2.
But having hammered Durham’s leading T20 wicket-taker Nathan Sowter for six to midwicket, Buttler then lofted the off spinner to Parnell on the long-on boundary to depart for 31 off 15 balls having added 51 runs with Wells.
Wells and Mitchell kept the momentum going, Wells swinging Turner over deep square leg for six in the 8th over and then landed another in the pavilion car park two overs later off the same bowler to steer Lancashire to 91-3 at halfway.
Mitchell drove Glover gloriously for four as the pair posted their fifty partnership off 27 balls while Wells went to his half century off 37 balls moments later after wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson could only parry an edge off Glover to the third man boundary.
But having reverse swept left arm spinner Liam Trevaskis for six to reach 56, Wells was run out after failing to respond to a call for a quick single by Mitchell while Tom Hartley hit Trevaskis to Brydon Carse at long-on for 1.
That left Lancashire on 133-5 two balls into the 15th over, but Lightning skipper Liam Livingstone with two sixes in a 17-ball innings of 33 helped Mitchell (60 off 39 balls) finish the innings strongly with the 62 runs arriving from the final 34 balls, taking Lancashire on to an imposing 195-7.
Durham made a great effort to chase that down, but Lancashire remain unbeaten in 19 home games and showed why as they reined in the visitors with another good display.
“It was pretty touch and go there for a while,” admitted Luke Wells, “but I couldn't care less how we win as long as we get over the line and get the two points.”
"Durham were a long way ahead on DLS but then we took a couple of wickets and they were behind.
“Then the rain came but they still needed 46 runs off three overs and I'd like to think we would have defended that, so all in all it's a great win.”
Wells contributed with both bat and ball today, but he was particularly pleased by his efforts with the ball.
"I was pleased with how I bowled today, “ he said. “I managed to stop them scoring boundaries and there were a few dot balls in there as well - suddenly the rate built up and they had to take chances which is when the wickets come.
"Bowling is something I've really worked hard on all winter. I made a commitment to change how I'm bowling the ball and this year I'm trying to get a bit more pace on the ball.
"I'm not comparing myself to him at all but I've been watching how Rashid Khan bowls his leg spinners and I've been trying to copy how he does it with more pace on the ball and a bit more bounce - it's great to see the work I've put in during the winter pay off."
Lancashire are in second place in the North Group table, one of four teams on 12 points, and they next travel to New Road to face fifth place Worcestershire Rapids who are two points behind next Tuesday before returning to Emirates Old Trafford for the first of three remaining home games next Friday against Derbyshire Falcons.
Ken Grime