GARETH CROSS smashed a six off the penultimate ball to give Lancashire Lightning a dramatic Friends Provident t20 victory over Warwickshire Bears at Old Trafford.

Despite a half-century from Tom Smith Lancashire still needed 12 from seven balls chasing the visitors’ 126 for six when the wicketkeeper strode to the middle.

He dispatched the first delivery for four and after Keith Barker conceded just two off the first four balls of the final over, Cross sent the second ball he faced sailing over the boundary to wrap up a five-wicket win and condemn the Bears to only their second North Division defeat.

Lightning had struggled to chase totals during defeats to Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire and although Imran Tahir claimed three for 18 they were always up with the rate.

Paul Horton (23) shook off a blow to the chin from Neil Carter to smash a six and a four in three balls off Chris Woakes in the second over.

He and Smith worked the spinners well and put on 48 before Horton was bowled trying to sweep Tahir in the spinner’s first over.

The leg-spinner then struck with the last ball of his next two overs as Stephen Moore was stumped by Tim Ambrose for three and Steven Croft holed out to Darren Maddy for five.

But Smith kept his head with his fifth score over 40 in seven matches.

He and Simon Katich took Lancashire to the verge of victory before the Australian holed out to Maddy for 17 at the end of the 18th over with 14 still needed.

But when Smith was trapped lbw by Carter off the last ball of the following over Lancashire were 115 for five and needed Cross’ last-ditch heroics to see them home.

Only Jim Troughton had any significant impact with the bat for the Bears making an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls.