Lancashire prevail in last-over thriller

Lancashire revived their hopes of qualifying for the Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-finals with a dramatic last-over win against Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford.

Chasing a revised target of 147 from 27 overs, Chris Read looked to be guiding the visitors to victory with a half-century as his side needed just 20 from the final four overs.

But England bowler Sajid Mahmood returned with a stunning spell to claim two crucial wickets. Spinner Stephen Parry then took two more in the final over as the Lightning won by four runs on Duckworth/Lewis after bowling Nottinghamshire out for 142.

After Lancashire made 145 for 8 from their 27 overs, Nottinghamshire started their reply badly. Mahmood struck with his third ball as he bowled Rikki Wessels for a duck. Hogg claimed the wicket of Akhil Patel, who was caught at point by Steven Croft without scoring.

And Adam Voges became the third Outlaw to go for a duck when he edged Mahmood to wicketkeeper Gareth Cross. Hogg then bowled Ben Phillips, leaving Nottinghamshire 24 for four.

Alistair Brown kept them in the game with 22 off 23 balls before he was bowled by Simon Kerrigan. Read and former Lancashire player Steven Mullaney looked to have put their side in control, putting on 48 for the sixth wicket.

And even when Mullaney was caught by Luke Procter off Farveez Maharoof's bowling for 22, the Outlaws needed just 46 to win from eight overs.

But Mahmood changed the game. He returned to bowl a wicket maiden, with Sam Wood lofting him to Croft for eight. And in his next over he bowled Read for 59 to leave Nottinghamshire needing eight off the final over. Parry then had Paul Franks caught by Paul Horton and wrapped up the Lightning's second win in five games by bowling Andre Adams off the penultimate ball.

Earlier Croft's 41 from 40 balls was the backbone of the Lightning innings. After rain reduced the game to 30 overs, Stephen Moore was first to go, caught by Wessels off Darren Pattinson for four.

Franks then bowled Karl Brown for six before a heavy downpour reduced the game to 27 overs. Croft and Horton upped the rate after the break, putting on 50 in 52 balls. Wood, however, bowled Horton for 37 then trapped Maharoof lbw next ball.

Adams returned to the attack to trap Croft lbw in the 20th over and two more wickets in successive balls saw Lancashire reduced to 125 for seven as first Mahmood was run out after a direct hit from Mullaney and then Cross was caught at backward point by Pattinson off Adams for 21. Procter was run out in the penultimate over for 5.