Lancashire edged out Worcestershire by three runs in a thrilling final Group A encounter at Emirates Old Trafford, despite Worcestershire securing a home quarter-final against Warwickshire in the Metro-Bank One-Day Cup. The match, however, will be played at Edgbaston due to New Road hosting England Lions versus Sri Lanka.
Worcestershire managed to restrict Lancashire to a modest total of 237, but found scoring equally challenging on a difficult pitch. Captain Jake Libby played a crucial innings of 83, ensuring that his team’s net run rate remained unaffected.
Tom Hinley’s quick-fire 24 off 17 balls briefly gave Worcestershire hope of a dramatic finish, but Venkatesh Iyer sealed Lancashire’s victory by dismissing both Hinley and Harry Darley with consecutive deliveries in the final moments.
For Lancashire, this victory was a much-needed morale boost after a disappointing 50-over campaign. Josh Bohannon stood out with a well-crafted 87, while slow left-armer Charlie Barnard claimed three wickets in a disciplined bowling display, marking his first three-wicket haul in List A cricket.
Lancashire’s innings had a shaky start, with Worcestershire’s pace bowlers making early inroads. Tom Taylor struck with the third ball of the match, having Kesh Fonseka caught behind. Harry Darley then removed George Bell for seven and Rocky Flintoff for nine, leaving Lancashire at 50 for 3 in the 14th over.
Bohannon and Iyer stabilised the innings with a 63-run partnership before Iyer was caught behind off Ethan Brookes for 25. Bohannon continued to anchor the innings, reaching his fifty off 74 balls with a six over midwicket off Hinley’s wrist spin. The run-rate accelerated when Bohannon and George Balderson added 80 runs in 13 overs.
Bohannon, having been dropped twice in the 80s, was eventually caught by Rob Jones off Hinley for 87. Hinley further dented Lancashire’s progress by dismissing Balderson for 50 and taking a return catch off Tom Bailey. Harry Singh contributed 21 off 24 balls in the final stages, but Lancashire was bowled out in exactly 50 overs for 237. Hinley finished with 3 for 58, while Taylor was the standout bowler for Worcestershire with 2 for 25 from his 10 overs.
Worcestershire’s reply started poorly, with Ed Pollock hooking Josh Boyden to Charlie Barnard at long leg for 13, and Gareth Roderick being bowled for nine two overs later. Rob Jones’s dismissal, skied to Will Williams off Barnard’s left-arm spin, left Worcestershire at 45 for 3 in the 13th over.
Ethan Brookes was trapped lbw by Barnard for 19 while attempting a sweep, and Josh Cobb was caught at mid-off for eight, leaving Worcestershire at 106 for 5 in the 28th over. Libby and Taylor then put on 89 runs, mixing sensible batting with some aggressive strokes, to bring Worcestershire within 43 runs of the target.
However, Libby’s dismissal for 83, bowled by Barnard, was a turning point. Fateh Singh lasted just three balls, and Taylor was bowled by Williams for 41, leaving Worcestershire needing 40 off 28 balls. Hinley’s late heroics brought them close, but Iyer’s double strike ended the contest in Lancashire’s favour.