Lancashire secured their spot in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire, chasing down 132 at Emirates Old Trafford. England internationals Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone shone in their return to county cricket, leading Lancashire to a comfortable win.
The Lightning, positioned second in the North Group, joined group leaders Birmingham in the quarter-finals after clinching their seventh win in 13 matches. A stellar bowling performance, highlighted by left-arm pacer Luke Wood's season-best figures of 3 for 23, restricted Nottinghamshire to 131 for seven.
Lyndon James was the top scorer for Nottinghamshire, achieving a career-best 51 off 38 balls. In reply, Phil Salt anchored Lancashire's chase with a blistering 70 off 42 balls, including five sixes, in his first innings post-T20 World Cup. Livingstone, also back from international duty, contributed significantly with an unbeaten 54 off 37 balls, featuring three sixes. He also took a wicket and three catches.
Lancashire's victory marked their 150th win in Blast history, a first for any county. The match was effectively controlled by Lancashire from the outset, especially after Saqib Mahmood dismissed Outlaws captain Joe Clarke for a thick edge, reducing the visitors to two for one after just eight balls.
Nottinghamshire's innings faltered early, collapsing to 28 for four within six overs. Wood claimed his first wicket by dismissing Jack Haynes, caught at deep square-leg, while spinners Chris Green and Tom Hartley took additional wickets.
Matt Montgomery’s dismissal by Hartley for his first wicket since May 12, due to World Cup squad commitments, further hampered Nottinghamshire. Despite their struggles, James and Tom Moores shared a 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket, each hitting a six to provide some resistance.
Livingstone broke this partnership by getting Moores to mistime a shot to long-off, ending his innings at 26. Wood then dismissed Liam Patterson-White at deep cover, and James, having reached his fifty, fell to a stunning diving catch by Livingstone, giving Wood his third wicket.
Despite reaching 131, Nottinghamshire's total seemed insufficient to challenge Lancashire. In the chase, Fazalhaq Farooqi raised Outlaws' hopes by dismissing Luke Wells early. However, Livingstone and Salt formed a solid partnership, with Salt smashing Olly Stone for an early six and hitting consecutive sixes off Luke Fletcher.
Salt reached his fifty off 31 balls, putting Lancashire on track for a home tie in the quarters. Salt and Livingstone shared a century partnership before Salt was dismissed by Patterson-White. Livingstone, having been dropped twice, sealed the win with a six off Farooqi, completing his half-century.
This victory propels Lancashire to their 17th quarter-final in 22 seasons, showcasing their dominance in the competition.