LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING moved to the top of Natwest Pro40 Division Two after battling through two rain breaks to beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks by eight wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis Method at Wantage Road.
Rain initially reduced the match to a 35-over contest, but another two-hour break early in the Northamptonshire innings meant the match was reduced to 21 overs per side.
After being put in to bat, the hosts struggled to 102 for seven with Johan van der Wath’s quick-fire 35 late in the innings adding some respectability to the total as Kyle Hogg (three for 18) and Stephen Parry (two for 12) ripped through the Steelbacks batting line-up.
And despite another rain delay early in the Lancashire innings, openers Tom Smith (43) and VVS Laxman (38 not out) made light work of their chase to help the Lightning finish on 91 for two and pick up the two points.
Stand-in Lightning skipper Mark Chilton’s decision to field first looked inspired early on as Sajid Mahmood struck in the first over to remove Stephen Peters lbw for a duck.
Northamptonshire were made to rue poor fielding as Laxman was dropped twice by David Willey and Andrew Hall in the first two overs before a brief rain break reduced Lancashire’s target to 88 from 18 overs.
Hall bowled Smith as he fell short of a half-century but Laxman and Francois du Plessis (two not out) steadied the ship to ensure the Lightning reached their total with 37 balls remaining.
