MATCH REPORT: Green propels Lightning to second Vitality Blast win
Chris Green hit a rapid unbeaten 22 and took four for 12 as Lancashire Lightning made it two wins from three games with a convincing 57-run victory over Derbyshire Falcons at a sunny Emirates Old Trafford.
Green’s eleven-ball cameo transformed the finale of the Lightning innings with 22 runs arriving from the last over to take the Lancashire score to 179 for seven, a more imposing total than had looked likely moments earlier.
That proved to be beyond the visitors as the Lightning bowlers produced another outstanding performance led by Green who claimed two of the top four in the Falcons line up as the visitors lost their first five wickets for 71 and were all out for 122 despite battling 42 by Brooke Guest.
Lancashire raced away at the start with Josh Bohannon, who has struggled for runs of late, quickly into his stride hammering a six and two fours as 16 runs came from the third over bowled by Pat Brown.
Bohannon had made the bulk of the 45 runs scored when the opening partnership was ended by South African Daryn Dupavillon bowling Luke Wells for five with a slower ball at the end of the fifth over.
Bohannon departed six balls later for a T20 best score of 39 after his leading edge off Zak Chappell looped to Mitch Wagstaff at mid-off from the final ball of the powerplay leaving Lancashire 50 for two.
And Derbyshire, well led by Samit Patel, produced some clever bowling variations to bring themselves back into the game by taking wickets.
Keaton Jennings pulled Patel majestically for six but perished in the ninth over for 16 after mistiming a drive off Pat Brown to Wagstaff at mid-off.
A canny piece of bowling from the vastly-experienced Patel saw Luke Wood stumped for 1 to leave Lancashire 82 for four midway through the tenth over.
Tom Bruce, who hit his first ball for six, steadied matters by combining well with Matty Hurst in a 41-ball partnership of 38 for the fifth wicket before he pulled Chapple to deep midwicket for 35 to leave the Lightning 121 for four in the 15th over.
Hurst and Croft both hit sixes off Chappell before Hurst perished for 27 hitting the bowler to Brown at midwicket, followed by Croft holing out to Whiteley off Brown for 17 in the following over.
But a final over explosion by Chris Green changed the momentum of the game significantly.
Two sixes and a four by Green saw 22 runs arrive in a hurry from a wild over by Dupavillon that led to the Lightning posting 179 for seven, when a much lower score had appeared to be likely.
And that late surge put the visitors under increased pressure when they batted as Lancashire took early wickets.
Harry Came hit the fourth ball of the Derbyshire reply for six but lost partner Luis Reece for six after the left handed opener was bowled playing back to Green.
David Lloyd pulled another six off Tom Aspinwall but then inside edged a full delivery from Mitch Stanley onto his stumps for 10 and when skipper Patel pulled the last ball of the powerplay off Green to Jack Blatherwick at midwicket for seven, Derbyshire were in early trouble on 48 for three.
Three runs later Blatherwick ripped out Came’s middle stump after the opener had made 26 off 22 balls and Anuj Dal fell for 9 when pulling Wells into the hands of Bohannon at deep midwicket to leave the Falcons 71 for five after 11 overs.
Ross Whiteley hit a steepling catch off Wells to Blatherwick for 11 after adding 39 runs with Guest who hit two sixes and two fours in an attractive 42 off 32 balls before slapping Aspinwall to Jennings at mid-off.
That left Derbyshire 120 for seven in the 17th over but there was still time for Green to capture two wickets in two balls with his four for 12 the fifth equal best bowling for Lancashire Lightning in T20 cricket.
And it was Green who ended proceedings by completing the run out of Brown from the fourth ball of the 18th over to seal a comfortable victory.
“We’ve had two fantastic games here,” said Chris Green.
“It’s been a great start at home and even better to have bounced back after the loss on the road.
“I think we’ve played some really good cricket to start off this competition.”
Green was delighted to have scored runs and taken significant wickets today.
“I’m really happy with how today went,” he said.
“I think that’s my role coming in as an overseas player. I’ve got to try and contribute to the teams success as much as possible.
“I’ve been working really hard on both facets of my game and to it both in one game is really nice.
“For me, now it’s about continuing that good form as this tournament runs on.”
The Vitality Blast is not new to Green who has played previously for Birmingham Bears and Middlesex.
“I’ve had a couple of stints out here that I’ve really enjoyed,” he added.
“The cricket’s a lot of fun and there’s a great atmosphere. The crowd get really behind it.”
And Green is enjoying life at Emirates Old Trafford.
“With my skill sets, particularly bowling on some of these wickets, it really suits me as well,” he said.
“So I want to contribute as much as I can, try and rub off with a bit of experience as well is my main goal here.
“I’m having a lot of fun, the lads are great and I’ve really enjoyed the support we’ve got here as well.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams, Dan Adams