Worcestershire Rapids’ run-chase of 176 stuttered at the crucial time as the visitors T20 campaign came seven runs short of a perfect start during a very promising night at Old Trafford.
After losing the toss and being asked to field first in blustery and overcast conditions, the Rapids were looking for a fast start their season.
Overseas pair Ben Dwarshuis and Jacob Duffy, took the new ball but struggled to make a breakthrough as Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings got Lancashire off to a brisk start.
Lancashire brought their fifty up inside five overs, but the Rapids soon had their first real chance of the game, when Wells top-edged a Dwarshuis, delivery high into the leg-side, but the swirling chance evaded Kashif Ali at deep-backward square leg.
Adam Finch, re-joined the attack after an end change early on, and almost grabbed the opening wicket when Ethan Brookes nearly clung on to a difficult chance diving forward on the boundary as the powerplay came to a close, with the away side up against it.
Those in Black and Blue didn’t have to wait long, however, as Brookes entered the attack and made an instant impact when he had Wells, caught at long-off by the returning, Adam Hose, with the score reading 79-1.
The Rapids soon had their second wicket, courtesy of some outstanding fielding from Dwarshuis, who’s pinpoint pick up and through from deep-extra cover found Gareth Roderick behind the stumps, running out the desperate Matty Hurst for three.
Brookes continued his excellent spell with the ball, restricting runs from his end, as the Lightning reached the halfway stage 92-2.
T20 debutant, Tom Hinley, controlled proceedings nicely, as he and fellow spinner Fateh Singh (2-23), controlled the middle overs.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS VS Lancashire Lightning
The highlight of the innings however, came in the 12th over, as Brookes showed sensational dexterity on the boundary rope to take the catch, but with momentum taking him over the rope, the all-rounder threw the ball back in-field, before diving into play once more, to secure Hinley’s first T20 wicket in stunning fashion.
Brookes (1-26) showed all of his class during a vital spell for his side, as the Rapids began to swing the momentum back in their favour.
Dwarshuis, returned in the 17th over and claimed the visitors fourth scalp of the innings, when he had Ashton Turner caught at short-third man, as the Rapids reaped the rewards of pressure from both ends.
154-4 soon became 157-6, as Singh produced his most productive over to date, removing Chris Green first ball with a smart caught and bowled, before having Jack Blatherwick, caught by Ali, at long-off.
Pace-off the ball had been the key ingredient to the Rapids’ dramatic turnaround with the ball, but world number one ranked T20 bowler, Jacob Duffy, returned to show how dangerous he can be, as he claimed the seventh Lancashire scalp in the penultimate over, before a run-out off the final ball of the innings saw the home side finish on 176-8.
The chase took a hit in the first over when Ed Pollock, hit two boundaries in quick succession, before mistiming an expansive drive and departing for a quickfire 10.
Kashif Ali, came together with Skipper, Brett D’Oliveira, as the pair wasted no time getting into the groove, with the number three sending the ball to the midwicket boundary with freedom as the visitors raced to 33-1 inside three overs.
When Ali, hit back-to-back sixes at the end of the fourth over, including a stunning checked straight drive down the ground, and D’Oliveira, began to show his array of cultured stroke play through the offside, the pair notched their 50 partnership off just 24 balls, having put their team in control.
Ali’s blockbuster cameo was brought to an end shortly after the powerplay, as he top-edged a pull shot and was caught for a blistering 39 off 21, with Worcestershire 71-2.
Adam Hose came to the middle to join his Captain, as the duo maintained the side’s rapid run rate of 10 an over continued.
A similar vein to the first innings, variations and pace off the ball proved tricky to get away, with the pressure telling in the 10th over when D’Oliveira, feathered an attempted pull shot behind to the keeper for 30.
The very next ball and the Rapids found themselves stuttering, as Hose (13) was caught at short fine leg, with the visitors suddenly 93-4.
As spin once again took the sting out of the middle overs, the hosts began to build some pressure of their own as Roderick and Brookes ran hard between the wickets to keep things moving.
The partnership of 28 came to an abrupt end when Roderick was narrowly run-out attempting to come back for a second run and Bohannon made no mistake with his shy at the stumps.
With the required rate rising to above 11 an over, Brookes stepped up his charge with three big boundaries in the 16th over.
Brookes and Dwarshuis continued their fight, but pressure built and after Brookes was dropped in the 18th over, there was to be no second chance as his wicket was secured an over later when his effort to clear the midwicket boundary fell just short and he fell for a very well made 28 off 23, with the Rapids needing 25 off the remaining 10 balls.
Dwarshuis rallied, but in the end the target proved too much as the Rapids fell seven runs short of victory.
