SOUTH African Test star Ashwell Prince hit his highest one-day score for Lancashire yesterday to put them on the verge of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy.

The 31-year-old, who has averaged 98.75 in three County Championship games, hit 78 runs off 97 balls to be the cornerstone of the Lightning’s pursuit of 212 against Northamptonshire at Old Trafford.

Lancashire, who are fighting Essex for top spot in Group D, won by six wickets and currently sit on eight points after five games.

Coach Peter Moores believes 10 points will secure a place in the last eight and Lancashire face Derbyshire at Derby today.

Northamptonshire did well to recover from 97 for five in the 26th over and 129 for seven in the 32nd to post a respectable 211 for nine from their 50 overs.

Captain Nicky Boje led the way with 50 off 57 balls, including five fours and one six, while Alex Wakely and David Lucas both hit 32. Glen Chapple returned the pick of the Lancashire figures with two wickets for 32 from 10 overs.

Gary Keedy also claimed two wickets but went for 42 runs from his seven overs.

Lancashire were sharp in the field, the prime examples being the run outs of Boje and Monty Panesar. But the Lightning will have been disappointed to concede 33 extras.

Chapple picked up his wickets in the first 12 overs after he invited to visitors to bat. Prince hit 78 as Lancashire reached Northamptonshire’s 211 total with six wickets in hand and more than two overs remaining.

Paul Horton (46) and Faf du Plessis (40 not out) fell short of their half centuries, but the former enjoyed a 97-run partnership with Prince to build the foundations of the innings.

Earlier, having chosen to bat first, Boje was the only Northants player to reach 50 as Chapple and Keedy each took two wickets apiece.

Prince, who totalled seven fours, hit former international colleague Hall for a straight six but holed out to Willey at deep midwicket off the bowling of Daggett with victory in sight.

And du Plessis finished with 40 not out as the win was secured with 15 balls to spare.