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Liam Livingstone Blasts 85 as Lancashire Cruise in Rain-Reduced Chase
Rain-reduced game: Durham vs Lancashire at Riverside became a 10-overs-per-side contest after a 2-hour delay. Durham posted 128/2 in 10 overs: Alex Lees 42 off 24, Graham Clark 49_ off 29. Livingstone chipped in with 1 wicket. Lancashire chased it down in 9.1 overs: 130/3, won by 7 wickets with 5 balls to spare.
The Lightning's quarter-final hopes were boosted by a second win in six games - this by seven wickets with five balls remaining - while Durham's fourth defeat in six means they are joined on eight points by a Lancashire team who remain bottom of the North Group.
85_ off 31 balls – Livingstone’s 2nd successive Blast half-century.8 sixes, 6 fours, strike rate 274.19.Hit four consecutive sixes off Kasey Aldridge in the 8th over to turn the chase. Came in after Keaton Jennings fell early and dismantled the target with Michael Jones 27 off 15.
This was the same pitch used for Durham's defeat against Northamptonshire here on Saturday, and pace-off was the tactic from both teams. When Livingstone bowled an attacking Lees, Durham had 94 in the eighth over. But Clark brilliantly scooped Aspinwall for a boundary as the hosts ended well, despite the opener just ending short of 50.
While Keaton Jennings miscued to mid-off against Callum Parkinson four balls into Lancashire's chase, Livingstone was quickly into his stride by pulling Matthew Potts for six as 19 came off the second over - 26 for 1. And, on the back of scores of 44 and 81 in his last two matches - both defeats against Yorkshire and Glamorgan - he was incredible here.
Ends Lancashire’s 3-game losing streak, 2nd win in 6 games. Boosts their quarter-final hopes, though they remain bottom of the North Group. Durham suffered their 4th defeat in 6, stuck on 8 points alongside Lancashire. Bottom line: Livingstone’s brutal 85_ off 31 blew Durham away as Lancashire cruised home in a rain-shortened 10-over chase.
Livingstone was dropped in the deep on 36 before Jones hoisted Sowter over long-off for six. The same batter fell caught at long-on for 27 off 16 balls against Aldridge shortly afterwards before Livingstone took him apart late in the eighth over to take the score to 111 for 3 and all but settle the game.