Luke Wood smashed the fifth ball of the last over for six, sealing a two-wicket victory for Lancashire Lightning against Worcestershire Rapids in a nail-biting Vitality Blast T20 match at Emirates Old Trafford.
Wood’s powerful hit over square-leg off Tom Taylor ensured Lancashire’s successful chase of 182, bolstering their chances for a home quarter-final and denying Worcestershire their first T20 double over Lancashire.
Despite the defeat, Worcestershire's Josh Cobb made a commendable 74 in their total of 181 for four, and Matthew Waite impressed with three wickets for 19 runs during Lancashire’s innings. However, Tom Bruce’s unbeaten 50, his first T20 half-century for Lancashire, kept the hosts in contention even as wickets tumbled.
Worcestershire began their innings with 40 runs in the Powerplay but lost two wickets to Saqib Mahmood. Brett D'Oliveira was caught behind for seven, and Kashif Ali, after hitting Mahmood for six, was caught by Steven Croft at mid-off for 16.
Cobb and Gareth Roderick then dominated, reaching 81 for two after ten overs before Roderick was lbw to Chris Green for 26. Cobb continued his aggressive play, reaching his fifty off 40 balls. He was eventually caught by Croft off Green for 74, having hit eight fours and three sixes. Adam Hose contributed a quick 45 not out off 26 balls, with Worcestershire finishing at 181 for four. Luke Wood was the most economical bowler for Lancashire, giving away only 24 runs in four overs, while Mahmood and Tom Hartley each claimed two wickets.
In their chase, Lancashire scored 63 runs in the Powerplay but lost three wickets. Keaton Jennings scored heavily off Worcestershire debutant Harry Darley, who conceded 39 runs in two overs. Jennings remained 40 not out at the end of the Powerplay, offsetting the early losses of Luke Wells, Matty Hurst, and George Lavelle.
Hayden Walsh bowled Jennings for 41, but Bruce and Croft then added 37 runs in five overs. Croft was caught by D'Oliveira off Ethan Brookes for 16. Bruce and Chris Green's partnership left Lancashire needing 53 off the final four overs. Green was caught at long-on for 19, but Tom Hartley’s back-to-back sixes from Brookes’ bowling left 18 runs required from 12 balls. Waite then took Hartley and Tom Aspinwall's wickets in consecutive deliveries, but Wood’s decisive six secured Lancashire's victory.