Smith, Lancashire form continues

Tom Smith continued his outstanding form as Lancashire hung on to claim a nine-run victory over Leicestershire at Old Trafford, their fifth win in seven matches.

The hosts posted 166 for 7 from their 20 overs despite Richard Jones taking 5 for 34 on his Leicestershire debut, following his loan move from Warwickshire earlier in the day. Leicestershire stayed just about in contention until the final over, from which they needed 17 runs, but Kabir Ali kept it tight enough.

The hosts got off to a fast start with opener Tom Smith hitting 50 off 36 balls but Jones was among the wickets to make a dream start to his Leicestershire career. Jones claimed the scalps of Ashwell Prince and Karl Brown, with Lancashire finding boundaries hard to come by.

Paul Horton joined forces with Smith to put on 50 for the third wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Rob Taylor.

Jones was the man doing most of the damage, though, and, after snaring Horton for 40, he was on a hat-trick when he got Steven Croft and Jos Buttler in successive balls. Lancashire withstood the hat-trick ball and finished strongly, taking 20 off the final over and finishing their innings with a six from Arron Lilley.

Leicestershire made the fast start they needed thanks to opener Josh Cobb but Jordan Clark bowled his opening partner Niall O'Brien for 9 in the third over. By the end of the six powerplay overs Leicestershire had lost Cobb and Greg Smith as well, and after 10 overs they were 74 for 3.

Matthew Boyce top scored with 47 before he was bowled by Junaid Khan, and off the final ball Kabir found Taylor's stumps to seal victory in style for Lancashire.