Lancashire Lightning Vitality T20 Blast Semi Final 2 at Edgbaston Win REPORT

DAN CHRISTIAN FLYING OUTLAWS INTO FINAL on FLIGHT 6666

as Nash dives-out of final

Notts reached the T20 final for the third time following a five wicket triumph over Lancashire with 16 balls to spare. After a monumental mop up following Saturday's deluge, play finally got going on Finals Day at 1515 with Surrey beating Gloucestershire by six wickets in an 11 overs a side affair. Notts game was of a similar duration and started at 1720. Lancashire got to a good start speeding to 28 for one off three overs. Unchanged Notts though bowled tightly and despite 33 from the experienced Steven Croft, Lancashire could only muster 94 for four with Carter, Ball and Christian conceding no boundaries in the last 17 balls of the innings. Carter (2-0-16-2) finished with most economical figures and also removing key men Livingstone and Vilas. The only blow for Notts was the knee injury sustained to Chris Nash who fell awkwardly on his knee attempting a catch; he left the field and did not bat in what turned out to be his last game for Notts. Notts made a rapid start racing to 49-1 in four overs. For the second time in three days, Hales (29) was a victim of one of the Parkinson twins, another big spinning delivery bowling him. Notts had a mid innings wobble as slow left armer Hartley claimed Clarke and Moores in the same over, as Notts needed 34 off five overs. However Christian (30 and 2-0-20-0) all but settled proceedings by dispatching Liam Livingstone for four successive sixes into the empty Hollies Stand in the eighth over. Christian departed with four needed but Imad hit his first ball to the ropes as Notts got home with ease. Lancashire had only bowled two overs of pace in the brief innings of 8.2 overs.

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat. Imad opened the bowling from the City End and conceded five singles. Davies losing his bat got three off Ball and then off the third and fourth balls hit him for straight boundaries, 13 off the over. Patel took a wicket with his second ball having Davies (15) well caught by Mullaney at short fine leg, 18 for one. Croft hit his first ball through extra cover for 4. Two balls later Croft hit him for six over wide long on, 10 off the Patel over. A leg side four for Livingstone off Imad saw Lancashire to 32 for one at the end of the power play (3.2 overs). Eight of Imad's second over.

Patel conceded seven off the fifth over. Christian was hit for a leg side four by Croft. Two balls later Livingstone hit him for a straight four. Eleven off the over including one leg bye. Livingstone hit Carter for a leg side six. Two balls later, repeating the same shot Livingstone (22) was caught on the square leg ropes by Ball off Carter, 61 for two off 7 overs. Imad (3-0-20-0) then conceded eight off his third over. Croft hit Carter for a leg side six. Vilas (5) attempting a sweep was leg before to Carter, 75 for three. Nine off the over. Croft (33 off 22 balls,2x4,2x6) holed out to substitute Zak Chappell on the deep mid wicket ropes, Jake Ball the bowler, 78 for four. Ball (2-0-20-1) conceded seven off the tenth over. Christian conceded 10 off the last over as. Lancashire were 94 for four off 11 overs with Jennings on 9 and Jones on 6.

Slow left arm spinner Tom Hartley bowled the first over from the City End and conceded 12 including a six over long on for Duckett. A poor opening ball from Luke Wood was smashed to the off side ropes by Hales, 11 off the over. Hales hit Mahmood for six over third man. Duckett (13) pulled Mahmood to Croft who took a well judged catch at deep square leg, 30 for one. Clarke hit his first ball for six over long off, 37 for one off three overs. Hales swept Livingstone for four, Notts 41 for one at the end of the power play (3.2 overs); nine ahead of Lancashire at the equivalent stage. Hales hit Livingstone for six over mid wicket, 12 off the fourth over. Matt Parkinson copied his brother by getting a ball to turn sharply to Hales (29) taking out his off stump, 50 for two. A cracking ball and just three off the over.

Clarke swept Hartley for a leg side six. Moores (1) played a wild slog to Hartley and was caught at long off by Vilas, 59 for three. Clarke (17) was yorked and lost his leg stump, 61 for four. Two wickets for Hartley in the sixth over as Lancashire fought back. Parkinson conceded five off the next over. The game turned dramatically as Christian swept Livingstone for four consecutive massive sixes into Hollies Stand, 25 off the over. With first ball of the ninth over, Christian (30 off 13 balls) was stumped by Davies off Parkinson, 91 for five. Imad hit his first ball to the long on boundary to clinch the game, Notts 95 for five off 8.2 overs. Patel 1 not out. MAG

Outlaws in the final

RINSE, DRY, REPEAT

Slight improvement in the forecast, but Edgbaston must be sodden. The potential new day of Wednesday looks to be more favourable but will the Technical Committee be keen to a result, by whatever means, this weekend?

Inspection was planned for 12.00 but additional rain has delayed that until 2.00

2.00 inspection brought forward to 1.30 and then 2.30

Day 1 

Surrey v Gloucestershire

10.30 toss delayed by light drizzle

Start delayed

11.00 inspection abandoned due to rain worsening.

14.30 The second semi would have started now, but there's little prospect of any play today as the rain continues to soak the Edgbaston outfield.

16.30 Still raining

18.00 It's been decided that there's no chance of play today and so the whole procedure will be repeated tomorrow.

If the first semi-final cannot be completed tomorrow, Finals Day will be re-scheduled for Wednesday 7 October, once again at Edgbaston.

WILL THEY, WON'T THEY

Will they, won't they... play?

We know the Notts Outlaws eleven, regardless of who is thrown into the squad, Lancashire will know too.

Outlaws will face the other Parkinson and Luke Wood as well as a well skilled and well drilled Lightning squad, who on their day are a match for Notts. The winners are likely to be the team that adjusts best and the quickest to conditions on the day, be it weather or the playing (overs) conditions.

But will they play?

Cricket isn't played in October (usually) for reasons:

too cool

too wet

too dark

too windy

wickets too slow

too much competition from football in its full swing for the media's attention

Only one of those will prevent Saturday's attempts to play and the forecasters foresee plenty of wet for Birmingham on both Saturday and Sunday.

It might all be decided by the Technical Committee (see previous post).

The above link will take you to the bowl-out procedure also.