That's all from this contest, folks! For now, it's me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of scorer/analyst Ashok Dayma. CHEERS!
9:28 PM IST, 4:58 PM Local Time: A comprehensive victory for Northamptonshire as they defeat Lancashire by 24 runs, extending their winning streak to five matches in the ongoing T20 Blast.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Ricardo Vasconcelos came out all guns blazing and smashed 32 runs off just 15 balls. However, James Anderson removed both openers - Vasconcelos and Matthew Breetzke (9) inside the powerplay. David Willey (37) and Ravi Bopara (28) initially struggled to find their timing, and just when they started to settle in, both perished at a crucial stage of the game. Lewis McManus smashed 28 runs off 16 balls in the death overs and propelled Northamptonshire's total to 180 runs in 20 overs. James Anderson shone with the ball for Lancashire, claiming three wickets. Liam Livingstone chipped in with a couple of wickets, and Jack Blatherwick bagged a solitary wicket. In reply, Lancashire got off to a shaky start, losing both openers — Luke Wells (11) and Keaton Jennings (0) — within the first three overs. Matthew Hurst (17), Liam Livingstone (18), Ashton Turner (23), and Michael Jones (32) all got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores. George Scrimshaw wreaked havoc with the ball for Northamptonshire, claiming wickets at regular intervals and plunging Lancashire into deep trouble. The Red Roses lost wickets in clusters and were eventually restricted to 156/9 in their 20 overs.
OVER 20
Lancashire
156/9
Thomas Aspinwall
14(9)
James Anderson
2(4)
Ben Sanderson
1-38(4.0)
19.6 B Sanderson to T Aspinwall
2 Low full toss on the stumps. Aspinwall gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a double. Northamptonshire win by 24 runs.
19.5 B Sanderson to T Aspinwall
6 SIX RUNS! A consolation boundary for Lancashire! Back of a length on the stumps. Aspinwall charges down and pulls it over wide long-on for a biggie.
19.4 B Sanderson to J Anderson
1 Back of a length slower around off. Anderson drags it to mid-wicket for a single.
19.3 B Sanderson to J Anderson
0 Short and slower outside off. Anderson pulls at it and misses.