Lancashire sign McClenaghan for Friends Life t20

Lancashire have signed New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan for their Friends Life t20 campaign which gets underway later this month. McClenaghan will be Lancashire's second overseas player for the tournament, after Australia's Simon Katich.

McClenaghan said he was excited to sign for Lancashire and is looking forward to county cricket.

"I am delighted to be joining Lancashire for the Friends Life t20," he said. "I have enjoyed being part of the New Zealand tour of the UK and Champions Trophy squad so far and the opportunity to broaden my cricket experience by playing county cricket was too good to turn down. Lancashire are a club with a great history and tradition and I hope to be able to help the club to T20 success this season."

McClenaghan has been in fine form off late in the ODIs in the UK, with figures of 4 for 65 in the washed out match against Australia and 4 for 43 against Sri Lanka which New Zealand won by one wicket. He was the highest wicket-taker in the three-match ODI series against England with eight wickets at an average of 17.25. He currently has 26 wickets in ODIs, the most for an ODI bowler after nine matches, including four four-wicket hauls.

Lancashire coach Peter Moores said, "To have an international quality left-arm seamer joining us for the Friends Life t20 competition is very exciting and a real boost to the squad. The fact that Mitchell is coming straight out of international cricket in England means he will hit the ground running, and his competitive nature looks a perfect fit for how we go about our cricket."

Lancashire will play their opening Friends Life t20 match against Durham on June 28.