Lancashire win to start where they left off

Lancashire made it two eight-wicket wins in a day as they beat Nottinghamshire in the final game of the three at Welbeck today.

With 15 minutes between games Lancashire had no time to rest as they went out to field. Kate Cross got the visitors off to the perfect start as she bowled the dangerous Sonia Odedra for a duck. Jodie Dibble followed in the fourth over as a mistimed shot ballooned to mid-wicket to give Hannah Jones the wicket.

Lancashire did well to starve Georgie Boyce of much of the strike and it kept the run rate down. Boyce when on strike the score turned over. Her innings of 35 ensure that Nottinghamshire approached something that they could defend on a well-worn pitch.

Alex Hartley was economical without getting a wicket. Cross and Hannah Jones each took two wickets as Nottinghamshire reached 84 for 6 from their allotted overs. It was then over to the Lancashire batters to ensure that they made a dream start to their t20 campaign.

If Emma Lamb doesn’t bat you out of the game, it is Evelyn Jones. It was the captain’s turn this time after Lamb was out for 15. It was Jodie Dibble who took one of the two wickets to fall. The other was a run out towards the end as Jones neared 50. Lamb had mistimed it and was caught by Odedra. Shachi Pai joined her captain and just like the first game was more than content to offer support with a score of 15 from 22 balls.

In truth, it was all about Jones who looked at her fluent best in an innings of 49 from 58 balls. It included two big sixes the second of which won the game. Jones deserved a fifty although she will have been happy that her bowlers put her team in control before then.

Lancashire won with 18 balls to spare. In a league where each team only faces another once run rate could be a deciding factor in who wins the league.

Nottinghamshire aren’t as bad as these two results suggest and is much more a reflection of just how good Lancashire and Kent are. Having been promoted from division two last season Nottinghamshire now know how they have much to do to stay there.

Lancashire have Hartley and Cross available for the time being. If they can keep them for the rest of the tournament don’t bet against them retaining their title