MATCH REPORT: Lancashire clinch seven-run Vitality Blast win against Worcestershire
Lancashire won a thrilling Vitality Blast opener by seven runs against Worcestershire after successfully defending a target of 177.
Keaton Jennings hit a fine 30-ball half century and the Lightning skipper then watched his bowlers produce a disciplined effort allied to some excellent work in the field to stifle a Rapids side that had their noses just about in front at the halfway stage of the game.
It was a much needed first win of the season for Lancashire who return to Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday to play Notts Outlaws.
Ed Pollock hit ten runs off the opening over from Luke Wood but then perished from the sixth ball, nicely caught by Michael Jones at cover off a sliced drive.
Kasif Ali continued the early attack, hitting three of his first 11 balls for six as Worcestershire raced along to 69-1 in the powerplay.
But the Rapids opener then skied a catch to Jack Blatherwick at deep square leg off Luke Wells midway through the seventh over to depart for 39 off 21 balls.
Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose chipped away steadily at the target until a superb tenth over from Blatherwick, which went for just three runs, also contained the wicket of the Rapids skipper when D’Oliveira nicked a pull to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst for 30.
Hose departed from the very next ball gloving a pull off Tom Aspinwall to Mitch Stanley at backward short leg for 13 to leave Worcestershire suddenly struggling on 93-4 at the start of the 11th over.
The Lightning attack seized their opportunity, combining to stifle the Rapids progress by not conceding a boundary between the first balls of the 9th and 16th overs.
That pressure told with Gareth Roderick run out for 15 going for a second run but beaten by a great throw from Josh Bohannon at the end of the 15th over with the visitors on 121-5 and still needing 56 runs.
Brookes hit 4 fours as 17 runs were taken from the 16th over by Blatherwick to keep the Rapids diminishing hopes alive until they were finally ended by two tight overs (the 17th and 19th) from Wood before Aspinwall closed the game out with 15 runs needed by producing a superb final over to leave Worcestershire on 169-7 with overseas all-rounder Ben Dwarshuis unable to make a decisive impact and left on 26 not out.
Jennings and Wells produced an explosive 79-run partnership off 46 balls to get the Lightning innings off to a flying start.
Wells launched Rapids overseas player Jacob Duffy for six into the seats in front of the hotel while Jennings hit back-to-back fours in a 17-run third over and the pair repeated the dose off Adam Finch two overs later with Jennings pulling a six over fine leg having earlier square cut Dwarshuis for six.
Wells hit Brookes to Hose at long on for 35 off 22 balls and Matty Hurst was run out for four as Lancashire reached the 10-over mark on 92-2, Jennings going to his half century off 30 balls.
The Lancashire captain hit Hinley for six over midwicket in the 12th over but fell to a brilliant catch by Brookes attempting to repeat the shot three balls later, the fielder throwing the ball into the air as he fell over the boundary rope but recovering superbly to complete a diving catch, with Jennings out for 66 off 38 balls.
The two Lightning overseas players had contrasting fortunes with the bat, Ashton Turner hitting three boundaries in making 31 off 24 balls before slicing an edge off Dwarshuis high to Fateh Singh at backward point while Chris Green gave left arm spinner Singh a return catch first ball.
When Blatherwick drove Singh high to Kashif Ali at mid off for 2, three wickets had fallen for 3 runs to leave Lancashire 157-6 towards the end of the 18th over.
Jones, on his Lightning T20 debut, gave the innings late impetuous driving both Brookes and Dwarshuis over long off for six to finish unbeaten on 26 off 18 balls with Lancashire closing on 176-8.
That proved sufficient to get the Lightning off to the perfect start in this competition.
“It's been a bit of a whirlwind 24 hours, so to get our first win under our belt at home, it certainly meant a lot to the lads,” said Steven Croft.
“We were pretty happy (with our total). I'd probably say we left 10-15 runs out there. In the middle, we messed it up slightly, but then I thought Jonesy got us back on track.
“But we had full faith in the bowlers we had to come to do the job,” he added.
“The lads stayed pretty calm under pressure, especially with a few new faces around, and we're really pleased with them.
“It gives everyone a great boost of confidence. I think it's exactly what we needed, and I was thrilled for the lads today.
“I wouldn't say it's been smooth (the last few days). I’m obviously very proud to be leading the lads. It’s not the ideal situation, but one that I've jumped at and see as a good challenge.
“We’ve fell below our regular standards, and that was not just this year. I think we’ve dragged a little bit of that into this season. And yeah, no one's hurting more than the players, and everyone around the club really.
“We've underperformed, but hopefully, we can get back on track.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams