MATCH REPORT: Jennings and Wells enjoy record day as Lancs clinch a big Blast victory
A magnificent opening partnership of 177 between Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells along with 3-23 by Charlie Barnard on his Vitality Blast debut and 3-26 from Tom Aspinwall helped Lancashire make it two wins from two to get their T20 campaign off a great start with a 47-run victory against Notts Outlaws.
Having posted an opening partnership of 79 against Worcestershire two days ago, Jennings and Wells bettered that with a fabulous record-breaking effort for the first wicket after skipper Jennings had won the toss.
Their partnership was the highest for any wicket by Lancashire in T20 cricket, breaking the 170 by Jennings and Alex Davies set against Durham at Chester-le-Street in 2020 and it was also the highest for any wicket in the North Group of this competition.
Chasing a target of 217, the Outlaws suffered an early setback when Aspinwall struck twice in the third over, Joe Clarke driving to Ashton Turner at cover for 12 and Lyndon James bowled for 6 by a yorker two balls later.
Moises Henriques quickly revived the Notts innings hitting a brace of sixes and 5 fours to dominate a 61-run partnership with Jack Haynes who became the first T20 wicket for Barnard when he drove the left arm spinner to Jennings at extra cover for 23 midway through the ninth over.
Henriques’ third six brought up his fifty off only 21 balls as the Outlaws reached halfway on 91-3 and the experienced Australian overseas player forged another good partnership of with Tom Moores who laced one six into the car park before bowled by Chris Green for 24.
Barnard returned to produce a decisive moment with two wickets in one over.
The 20-year-old got the key wicket of Henriques, lbw for 60, and two balls later bowled Daniel Sams for 1 to have the Outlaws challenge faltering on 131-6 with 86 runs needed from the remaining five overs.
That proved to be far too big a task for the visitors lower order as Mitch Stanley removed Matt Montgomery for 4, Liam Patterson-White was stumped off Green for 15 and Conor McKerr gave Green an easy catch off Aspinwall for 5.
Jack Blatherwick wrapped up a convincing victory catching Dillon Pennington for 1 off his own bowling from the first ball of the final over with Notts well short on 169 all out.
Wells had driven the second ball of the match from Pennington for six to set the tone of the Lancashire innings with 13 runs taken from the opening over and 18 off the 3rd bowled by Sams.
Notts countered with four excellent overs of spin from Montgomery that conceded only 20 runs while the Lightning opening pair blazed away at the bowling from the other end.
It could have so different however if Notts had held onto two chances; Jennings dropped first ball by Montgomery off his own bowling and Wells put down on 13 off a difficult diving chance at deep midwicket by McKerr.
The opening pair took 59 runs from the powerplay, 110 off the first ten overs and 170 by the end of the 15th, both having hit McKerr for six in the 7th and with Jennings greeting Patterson-White’s introduction into the Notts attack by striking a first ball six and later reverse pulling Calvin Harrison for an outrageous six to the longest boundary on the ground.
Jennings took 27 balls to reach his half century and Wells a slightly more sedate 34, both hitting two sixes and 6 fours with some savage straight hitting in the ‘V’ between long-off and long-on.
Both perished hitting out, Wells for a T20 best 87 (off 50 balls) in the 16th over and Jennings for 95 (off 49 balls) with both batters hitting 6 sixes – one short of the individual Lancashire record in a match.
Ashton Turner hit a brief 12 and Michael Jones finished on 4 not out with Matty Hurst (12 not out off 6 balls) thumping the 13th six of the innings in the final over to equal the Lancashire team record for sixes in a match as the Lightning just about doubled their score over the final ten overs to finish on 216-3.
“Obviously we're delighted,” said Luke Wells.
“Everyone knows it was a tough start to the season in Championship cricket, so to go 2 from 2 with a pretty quick turnaround as well, at home, in front of home support, is obviously the best way we could possibly start.
“It was good fun,” he added, talking about his partnership with Keaton Jennings.
“We haven't actually opened together a lot in T20 cricket, for one reason or another, but obviously we've played together a lot now, so we know what makes each other tick.
“We know each other's strengths really well, so we can talk each other through innings pretty well.
“To be able to extend it like that, recognise certain bowlers that were hard work, and then try and capitalise on other guys that we thought we could take down worked out.
“It would have been nice to get a hundred each, but we can't complain.
“It’s my career best, so I was really pleased with that. It would be nice to get (a hundred), but at the end of the day, it was a match-winning contribution, and that's the most important thing.
“We're chuffed for each other when it goes well, and most importantly, it's helping the team out.
“It lifts everyone's spirits. The fact we've gone two from two as well is huge. But more importantly, I think we're still thinking that we can improve in certain areas as well.
“We're not taking anything for granted. And the guys are staying really (in the) present and looking forward to another game tomorrow.
Wells was just as delighted for Charlie Barnard who took three wickets on his T20 debut.
“He's a fantastic lad,” he said. “I think he's a real talent as well.
“He spins the ball hard, got great skills, drifts the ball, and has great changes of pace.
“So, I was really chuffed with him to be able to perform like that. I had no doubt in my mind that he was going to be able to perform on that surface.
“So, to watch Charlie go out there and put in a performance like that, with big smile on his face on debut, winning a game, what more can you ask for?
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams