Livingstone can't spare Lancashire early exit

Lancashire 290 for 8 (Livingstone 86, Clark 51) beat Derbyshire 265 for 8 (Godleman 75, Viljoen 50*) by 25 runs
Scorecard

Lancashire's hopes of qualifying for the knock-out phase of the Royal London One-Day Cup ended despite a 25 run victory at Derby that dented Derbyshire's chances of emerging from the North Group.

Liam Livingstone's 86 from 73 balls and Jordan Clark's 51 from 40 balls took the Lightning to 290 for 8 with Duanne Olivier taking 2 for 36 from nine overs.

A century opening stand from Billy Godleman (73) and Ben Slater put Derbyshire on course before Lancashire's spinners turned the game as the home side ended on 265 for 8 but results elsewhere put the Lightning out.

Derbyshire backed up their decision to bowl first with some disciplined bowling that restricted Lancashire to 42 from the first Powerplay with Haseeb Hameed dropped at deep midwicket on two.

Hardus Viljoen found some late movement to have Hameed caught behind for 26 in the 13th over but Livingstone picked up the tempo by pulling Matt Critchley for six and then lifting Alex Hughes high over wide long on.

Hughes had Alex Davies lbw caught on the crease for 39 from 58 balls before Livingstone hit his third six when he pulled Critchley over the pavilion and into the car park.

A ramp over the wicketkeeper took him to 50 from 35 balls and Dane Vilas improvised well after surviving a difficult running catch on nine until he scooped Ravi Rampaul to deep cover in the 31st over.

Livingstone drove Viljoen straight into the stand and looked set for a hundred until he tried to ramp the fast bowler and was bowled in the 37th over.

The Lightning were in danger of falling short when Rob Jones missed a sweep at Wayne Madsen in the 40th over but Clark responded impressively to ensure they posted a competitive total by reaching 50 from 39 balls before edging a big drive at Olivier in the 48th over.

Godleman and Slater came into the game on the back of an opening stand of 182 at Northampton on Friday and they established another solid launching pad by taking 55 from the opening powerplay.

Godleman reached 50 from 48 balls and Slater brought up the century stand by driving Matt Parkinson for six but was beaten by the next ball and lost his middle stump.

Madsen survived a fierce return chance to Parkinson before he was run out after being sent back and when Jones brought off a stunning diving catch at mid on to remove Hughes, the momentum was shifting towards Lancashire.

Derbyshire's progress had stalled against the spinners and Critchley's attempts to break free against Stephen Parry only ended in the hands of long off.

Godleman also fell to Parry and although Viljoen smashed four sixes in 34 ball 50, it could not save Derbyshire from a defeat that leaves them in fourth place with one game to play.