Steven Croft century drives Lancashire to emphatic win

Lancashire 204 for 7 (Croft 101) beat Northamptonshire 169 for 9 by 35 runs

Croft took the assault to the Steelbacks assault, blasting seven sixes and 5 fours in his 101 and shared a 146-run partnership in 12 overs with Daryl Mitchell (48). The pair had led a belligerent fightback after Ben Sanderson (2 for 29) had raised residence followers’ hopes by eradicating England energy hitters Jos Buttler (0) and Phil Salt (12) in his first two overs.

With Luke Wood (3 for 39) taking three wickets in an over within the powerplay, the hosts’ hopes rested as soon as extra on Australian large hitter Chris Lynn however when he fell for 21, it was left to all-rounders Tom Taylor (40) and AJ Tye (35) to entertain the crowds in a energetic stand of 58 in 5 overs because the Steelbacks fell to their sixth defeat of the marketing campaign. Lightning now have 5 wins from 9 video games, holding them firmly in rivalry for a playoff spot.

The Steelbacks’ night had began promisingly once they restricted Lightning to only 39 for 3 off the powerplay. Sanderson trapped Buttler leg earlier than in his first over and eliminated Salt in his second due to keeper Lewis McManus who took a diving legside catch. Wells grew to become the third wicket to fall when he holed out off Taylor with Willey taking a well-judged catch.

That although introduced Mitchell and Croft collectively who had been fast to go on the assault. Mitchell hit his first supply for 4 and later dispatched Tye excessive over further cowl.

Croft hit the primary six of the sport over lengthy on off Sanderson and greeted Freddie Heldreich by sweeping him over sq. leg for 2 sixes and a 4 in his first over. He pulled Taylor over deep sq. for six after which hit the subsequent two balls he confronted, each from Heldreich, for 2 additional maximums.

Mitchell was additionally clearing the ropes, smashing two sixes down the bottom off Zaib’s solely over. He provided the bowler a pointy return likelihood although, however the bowler couldn’t maintain on.

Justin Broad, enjoying his maiden first-team sport for Northamptonshire lastly made the breakthrough in his solely over, accounting for Mitchell who was caught by Lynn off an tried scoop.

Croft fell quickly after reaching his century due to Zaib who held onto a steepling likelihood at deep backward sq. off Tye, who additionally eliminated Tom Hartley within the last over.

Liam Livingstone (25) performed some large pictures, clubbing England teammate Willey down the bottom for six earlier than he was run out off the ultimate ball of the innings.

Northamptonshire’s new opening pair Ricardo Vasconelos (15) and Emilio Gay (13) took 22 off the primary two overs. Gay hit three consecutive boundaries off Jack Blatherwick earlier than he was caught off the vanguard off the primary ball of a extremely eventful over from Wood.

Vasconcelos pulled a free hit from Wood for six however departed to the subsequent supply when the bowler took a pointy low return catch. Wood then accounted for Willey subsequent ball, caught by Salt, earlier than Zaib safely survived the hattrick ball.

Zaib hit Blatherwick into the highest of the Turner Stand however was caught behind by Buttler off the subsequent supply to depart the Steelbacks in actual bother on 47 for 4.

Broad (14) seemed unfazed on the large event, reverse sweeping Hartley for 4 and crunching Wells by further cowl earlier than he was put down at long-on. Wells quickly had his man although when Broad was caught by Mitchell at long-off.

Lynn wanted to play one other powerhouse innings for the Steelbacks and had a stroke of luck when he was put down on the boundary off Hartley with the ball operating away for 4. But Hartley struck quickly afterwards when he had Lynn caught off a prime edge making an attempt to hook. Three overs later Wells picked up his second wicket when he bowled Lewis McManus (11).

Tye and Taylor had been decided to go down all weapons blazing and took on the bowlers to provide the house followers one thing to cheer. Tye dispatched Livingstone over the ropes and hit Blatherwick for a good larger six over deep sq. leg. The enjoyable ended when the Australian tried to uppercut Mitchell over the infield on one leg and was caught by Blatherwick for 35 (two sixes, three fours). Mitchell then had Sanderson caught and bowled two balls later.

Taylor continued to blaze away, ending the sport with an infinite six over deep midwicket to complete unbeaten on 40 (one six, two fours).