Lightning struck down

Nic Pothas helped himself to a century against the Middlesex Crusaders © Getty Images

Last season’s finalists Lancashire crashed to a shock 122-run defeat to Worcestershire in their opening match of this season’s Friends Provident Trophy.

The Lightning were skittled for just 90 as they fell well short of their revised target of 213 in a rain-affected game at Old Trafford.

Stephen Moore’s 66 was the highlight of the Royals’ 182 for four while Kabir Ali took 3-9 in a dismal Lancashire reply.

Shane Warne’s Hampshire got their season under way with a convincing 91-run over Middlesex at the Rose Bowl.

Warne took 3-16 as the Crusaders collapsed from 143 for four to 203 all out chasing 295.

The Hawks’ innings was built around a 139-ball 114 from wicket-keeper Nic Pothas, which included eight fours and a six.

Darren Gough’s reign as Yorkshire captain continued in positive fashion as his Phoenix side overcame Nottinghamshire by 37 runs at Trent Bridge.

Younis Khan, who recently turned down the Pakistan captaincy, hit his first century for the club, 100 from 92 balls, as Yorkshire ran up 280 for four from 50 overs.

Chris Read (68) and Mark Wagh (56) hit half-centuries in reply but the Outlaws lost wickets at regular intervals and were finished off in the 48th over.

Tim Ambrose scored a quick and magnificent century for Warwickshire © Getty Images

Spectacular centuries from Jonathan Trott (125 not out from 126 balls) and Tim Ambrose (111 not out from 83) took Warwickshire to a brilliant six-wicket win over Northamptonshire at Edgbaston.

The pair defied a scoreboard blackout to put on 205 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand that saw the Bears overhaul the Steelbacks’ 297 for six in the last over.

Usman Afzaal top-scored for the visitors with 87 while David Sales also hit a half-century.

There were no more hundreds at Taunton - there were eight there in this week’s Championship match - but the runs continued to come as Somerset beat Glamorgan by 24 runs in another high-scoring game.

Debutant wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter led the way with an unbeaten 69 as the Sabres ran up 310 for nine.

Mike Powell matched his score in reply but Peter Trego took 4-54 as the Dragons fell short.

Jon Batty’s unbeaten 52 steered Surrey to a narrow three-wicket victory over Kent at The Brit Oval.

Batty put on 110 for the sixth wicket with Azhar Mahmood (63) to help get the Brown Caps home after the departure of Scott Newman (73) had left them in difficulty at 147 for five.

The Brown Caps had been chasing a target of 272, set up brilliantly by Kent skipper Rob Key, who put on 174 for the eighth wicket with James Tredwell (88) to score 108.

Phil Mustard’s 66 helped Durham to a straightforward eight-wicket win at Leicestershire.

The hosts were bowled out for a paltry 138, despite 72 not out from John Maunders, with Callum Thorp taking 4-30.