Leicestershire v Lancashire, 1st SF, Friends Life t20, Edgbaston
Twenty20 Finals Day was introduced to its first One-over
Eliminator as a mad-cap semi-final swung one way and the other before settling, eventually, in Leicestershire's favour. The victory booked Leicestershire both a place in the final and a spot in the Champions League qualifier next month, but for now their thoughts will be on the Birmingham finale.
After
rain had twice curtailed the game to leave
Lancashire needing 80 from 11 overs, Gareth Cross clubbed a six off the final delivery to leave the scores level and set up the Eliminator. Stephen Moore had been Lancashire's highest scorer in the tournament and was given the
responsibility of setting the target with Steven Croft. Moore started with a six down the ground and added a four as the fielder at deep-square leg misjudged on the boundary. Claude Henderson, however, finished with two dot balls.
Leicestershire had to chase 14 in their over and
Will Jefferson made it look easy. Earlier he had looked in good during a 15-ball 23 but found better range against
Gary Keedy. The first delivery was clattered through midwicket for four and the second down the ground. With four needed from the last two balls, Jefferson mowed a huge six deep into the stands over midwicket, sparking wild celebrations from both the Edgbaston crowd and the Leicestershire players.
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Lancashire require 134 (18 overs) to beat Leicestershire 132 for 6 (Razzaq 36*, Parry 1-15) (18/18)
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Abdul Razzaq's 28-ball 36 lifted
Leicestershire to 132 for 6 off their 18 overs after Lancashire's spinners enjoyed a turning track at Edgbaston to give them the edge in the first semi of Finals Day.
Leicestershire had been reduced to 82 for 5 by the 12th over with left-arm spinners Steven Parry and Gareth Keedy giving Lancashire control. But after a slow start Razzaq launched three sixes and two fours - sharing a crucial 40-run stand with Paul Nixon who could be playing his last professional match. Leicestershire will need similar bite from Claude Henderson if they are to defend this modest total.
Until Razzaq got hold of things it had been an unsteady batting effort. Gareth Cobb may have dreamt up all sorts of scenarios for his first ball but probably not his limp prod outside off that gave him a diamond duck and Glen Chapple a wicket with the
opening delivery on Finals Day.
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His swift demise brought a productive period for Leicestershire with Will Jefferson and the tournament's highest-scorer Andrew McDonald making good use of the fielding restrictions to add 34 in 23 balls. Chapple's second over disappeared for 18 with Jefferson and McDonald striking two boundaries each as the bowler lost his line and strayed down leg.
The good recovery, though, was terminated in the space of two balls as
McDonald spooned a pull off the accurate Farveez Maharoof to mid-on for 7 and Jefferson, who had looked in fine fettle, had his middle stump exploded by Sajid Mahmood's opening delivery. Pace and a touch of inswing were too much for Jefferson who departed for 23. Mahmood's next delivery was dribbled down the leg side, as is his way. 34 for 1 had become 34 for 3 and it was rebuilding time.
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James Taylor and Jacques du Toit managed that efficiently enough against the seamers - Taylor showcasing his touch of class with a pulled four through midwicket off Mahmood - but the introduction of spin in the seventh over changed the mood entirely.
Parry and Keedy found immediate turn to have both batsmen in trouble. Keedy especially was proving why he's the Championship's leading spin bowler. Du Toit reverse swept his first ball powerfully but was stumped for 16 by the next that ragged violently as he advanced down. Hampshire's trio of twirlers might have been more delighted than even Keedy with what they saw.
It brought
Nixon to the wicket and set up a veteran match-up with Keedy. Nixon was typically bristling, aiming a hopeful reverse sweep first ball before settling down to scamper singles thereafter. Taylor survived a stumping chance when he was beaten by
turn from Keedy and an lbw appeal playing back to Parry.
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His struggle extended to another stumping appeal when Taylor was momentarily dragged out of his crease by Keedy before Parry ended things with the first delivery of the 12th over. Once again Taylor skipped down without success and this time Gareth Cross behind the sticks made no mistake to send Taylor scuttling back for a 23-ball 19. Razzaq, the new man in, cagily played out a maiden and by the time the rain arrived 36 balls of spin had brought 33 runs and three wickets.
The clouds, which had been looming all morning, dumped a heavy, but mercifully short shower. With three games to squeeze into the day, however, four overs were lopped off the match to make it an 18-over-a-side affair.
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The rain did nothing to dampen the spin on offer with Parry and Keedy finishing off their spells by repeatedly jagging big spinners past both Razzaq and Nixon's outside edge. Having prodded 12 balls for three runs, though, Razzaq did club one straight six off Keedy to signal things to come.
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Maharoof's first ball was dispatched into the crowd over midwicket where the nonchalance of the spectator's catch matched the ease with which Razzaq played the shot. The final ball of the over too was swung away for four through midwicket.
Nixon had played well for his 19 off 18 but will hope he gets another hit because if this is his final innings his farewell was less than fairytale. Razzaq missed a swish against Mahmood and stood perfectly still as Nixon hared down to join him. Cross gathered and sent it back to the bowler to take the bails off. Nixon kept running back to the dug out but acknowledged the standing ovation that accompanied him.
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Razzaq proved why his decision to stay put was worthy by sending Mahmood's next ball to the long-on boundary but Maharoof's smart final over ensured that was his last and left Lancashire with a highly gettable chance of reaching the final.
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