Durston knock dents Lancashire hopes

Derbyshire put a significant dent in Lancashire's hopes of qualifying for the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals by claiming a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare at Old Trafford. Derbyshire came out on top on a slow pitch to secure victory for only the second time in the North Division, the first of those also being against Lancashire - who may now have to win their last three matches to qualify.

Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan led the way with 3 for 20, including two wickets in the penultimate over of the innings, as the hosts could only post 122 for 8.

Man of the match Wes Durston then hit three sixes in four balls off Steven Croft in the third over to break the back of their chase. Having earlier taken 2 for 16 from four overs of off-spin, Durston, the former Somerset man, also hit five fours in a score of 56 off 36 balls.

Lancashire's spin duo of Gary Keedy (2 for 20) and Stephen Parry also impressed to make the contest tighter than it could have been before Rana hit the winning run.

Invited to bat, Lancashire failed to recover from losing Stephen Moore to the second legitimate ball of the match, stumped by Tom Poynton off Durston. Croft and Tom Smith shared 54 in eight and a half overs for the second wicket but that was as good as it got. Croft top-scored with 48 off 46 balls, including three fours and a six. Lancashire only hit five fours and a six in the innings, all of those coming in the first five overs.

When Durston had Croft caught at short fine-leg via a top-edged sweep, the hosts were 78 for 4 in the 14th over. Paul Horton added 27 off 26 balls but even that failed to add any impetus to the innings.

Fledgling left-arm spinner Tom Knight impressed with 1 for 13 from three overs and Tim Groenewald picked up two wickets at the death. Rana bowled Smith with a slower ball before getting Yasir Arafat caught at mid-off and Glen Chapple trapped lbw in the 19th over. Durston then capitalised on seeing opening partner Usman Khawaja dropped on 4 by Moore at cover off Croft by taking a liking to the same bowler.

He brought up his fifty off just 24 balls, also including five fours, but was stumped by Gareth Cross off Keedy to leave the score at 76 for 1 in the 10th over, in which Keedy also bowled Khawaja (15). Parry conceded only 11 runs from four overs before Croft, Arafat and Chapple all struck consolatory blows, although they were not enough to prevent Derbyshire reaching 124 for 7.