Lancashire Secures Dominant Victory in Vitality Blast

Vitality Blast - North Group, Emirates Old Trafford

Notts Outlaws: 131-7 (20 overs): James 51; Wood 3-23

Lancashire: 136-2 (14.3 overs): Salt 70, Livingstone 54

Lancashire (2 pts) defeated Notts by eight wickets

Lancashire moved closer to securing a home quarter-final in the North Group of the T20 Blast with a convincing eight-wicket victory over the struggling Notts at Emirates Old Trafford.

England returnees Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone led the charge, both smashing half-centuries and sharing a 112-run partnership to easily chase down the target of 132 with 33 balls to spare.

After winning the toss, Lightning reduced the Outlaws to 28-4 early on. Despite a resilient 51 off 38 balls from Lyndon James, Notts struggled to a below-par 131-7. Livingstone also excelled in the field, taking three catches, including a spectacular one, and claiming 1-22 from three overs as Lancashire became the first county to win 150 T20 matches.

Notts remain at the bottom of the group with only two wins from 13 matches. Lancashire, on the other hand, need Northants to lose to Birmingham Bears on Thursday to secure a top-two finish.

The Outlaws had a rough start with Joe Clarke top-edging Saqib Mahmood to Salt for a duck. Jack Haynes (2) was caught by Livingstone at deep square off Luke Wood, and Chris Green bowled Ben Martindale for 12 as he missed a reverse sweep. Matt Montgomery (1) was caught just inside the boundary by debutant George Dockrell off Tom Hartley, making it 28-4 in the sixth over.

James and Tom Moores added 50 for the fifth wicket from 41 balls, with James hitting a six over fine leg off Mahmood. Moores was caught by Steven Croft at long-on off Livingstone, who also took another catch at deep backward point to dismiss Liam Patterson-White for 17 in the 16th over, leaving Notts at 105-6.

James reached his half-century from 37 balls but was out the next ball from Wood, caught by Livingstone at deep mid-wicket for 51. Wood finished with figures of 3-23 from four overs.

In response, Lancashire lost Luke Wells for five, caught at backward point by Montgomery off Fazalhaq Farooqi. Salt then hooked Olly Stone for six over fine leg, and despite Livingstone's early scare when Calvin Harrison couldn't hold a diving attempt off Luke Fletcher, the pair continued strongly. Salt cut Fletcher for consecutive sixes over point, reaching 59-1 after six overs.

Livingstone was dropped again on 21 by Martindale before Salt completed his half-century from 31 balls. Salt then dispatched Fletcher for two more sixes to bring up the century stand from 62 deliveries in the 12th over.

With only six runs needed, Salt edged Patterson-White behind for 70 off 42 balls, ending a 112-run stand from 70 balls. Livingstone finished the game with a massive six over mid-wicket, reaching his half-century from 37 balls and securing Lancashire's 15th consecutive home win in completed T20 group games.