Croft’s assault paves way for red-hot Lancs

CRICKET:

Big–hitting Steven Croft sent Lancashire into the Friends Provident t20 quarter–finals on a winning note.

The Red Rose county recorded a tense seven–run win against Worcestershire at New Road with Croft making 88 from 52 balls.

Lancashire piled up 198 for six – their biggest total of the campaign – but they were stretched to the limit when Moeen Ali launched a blistering counterattack with 72 from 39 deliveries.

Even when the left–hander was caught on the boundary off Gary Keedy after hitting eight fours and four sixes, the Royals kept up their chase until finishing tantalisingly short on 191 for seven.

Needing 23 from the last two overs, they were finally tamed when Sajid Mahmood took two wickets in five balls – including James Cameron for 26 – and the task was too much when Tom Smith bowled Daryl Mitchell for 39.

An inexperienced Worcestershire team was powerless to stem the flow of runs despite an early glimmer of encouragement when Imran Arif bowled former New Road team–mate Stephen Moore for 10 in the fourth over.

Lancashire's response was little short of brutal. While Croft hit 10 fours and four sixes, Smith went past 500 runs in this season's competition with a power–packed 40 during a stand of 81 in six overs.

Lancashire are away to Essex in the quarter-finals. The rest of the draw is: Warwickshire v Hampshire; Nottinghamshire v Sussex; Somerset v Northamptonshire. Matches to be played on July 26 and 27.