Lancashire Lightning v Derbyshire Falcons, Vitality Blast

Lancashire 2 points, Derbyshire 2 points 

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Lancashire Lightning and Derbyshire Falcons played out a thrilling tie at Emirates Old Trafford which does neither side any favours in terms of Vitality Blast quarter-final qualification.

Both finished on 150, with Lancashire failing to get 13 off the last over from Nick Potts, including one off the last ball. Seamer Potts yorked Matty Hurst for 30. 

The Falcons were restricted to 150 for nine thanks to two wickets apiece for Sir James Anderson, Liam Livingstone and Tom Hartley. Opener Martin Andersson top-scored with 49 off 37 balls. 

Lancashire were hurt by a number of batters getting in but not going on. Livingstone for 31, for example. Pakistani wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim was excellent with three for 15, but Potts ensured two points apiece right at the death to leave Lightning 150 for eight. 

Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings said

“I thought we actually bowled really well. That was about par, maybe just under.

“I don't think as a batting group we kind of really put ourselves in a great position to win it, but Hursty and the boys played beautifully at the end to get us back in the scrap. 

“You always feel like games at EOT, especially on used surfaces, you want to get ahead of the game and try and hold on from there. It's something we've done traditionally really well in the past. But they bowled well in the powerplay, and we didn’t quite get ahead of it.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow again, not to get over the line. I think that's four games now which have come down to the last ball. 

“But, yeah, the guys are learning, and hopefully we start to put together some games.”