Scotland clinch last-ball thriller

Seamer John Blain celebrates one of his two wickets

Scotland Saltires pulled off a thrilling two-run Friends Provident Trophy win over Lancashire Lightning to continue their remarkable record at Old Trafford.

The Saltires managed to defend their modest 155 for nine by preventing the Lightning from getting eight off the last over and four off the last ball.

South Africa-born Dewald Nel led the way with 3-26 off 10 overs, while John Blain and former captain Craig Wright picked up two wickets each.

Despite losing by eight wickets after being bowled out for just 74 in the reverse fixture in Edinburgh last week, the Scots have now won their last three games at Old Trafford.

They won a rain-reduced game here last season by 10 runs, having triumphed in a National League clash by 41 runs in 2003.

Lancashire all-rounder Steven Croft was on his way to being the home side's star for the second game running.

The 23-year-old smashed a six over extra cover off the last ball to win Sunday's game against Durham Dynamos to take Lancashire to the top of the North Group.

Flintoff continued to impress with the ball

And on Monday he performed with the ball to record a career-best limited-overs analysis of 4-24 off 10 overs.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff continued his push for a place in the national squad for the first npower Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

The 30-year-old is on the mend after a fourth operation on a left ankle and took 2-13 from nine overs in a strong spell.

He bowled Glenn Rogers and Wright, comprehensively knocking their middle stumps out of the ground. He also hit veteran wicketkeeper Colin Smith on the helmet.

Opening bowler Kyle Hogg picked up two wickets - those of Fraser Watts and Navdeep Poonia - to reduce the visitors to 22 for two after they had been invited to bat by Lightning captain Stuart Law.

New South Wales left-hander Ed Cowan, who is featuring as the Scottish overseas player for the duration of the 50-over competition, top-scored with a solid 41 from 90 balls.

Ed Cowan hit 41 for Scotland against Lancashire

He was helped by 35 from Smith but the pair were both victims of Croft's accurate spell.

The Blackpool-born player reduced Scotland from 89 for two in the 29th over of the innings to 103 for six in the 39th over.

He bowled Smith, Cowan and former England Test all-rounder Gavin Hamilton and also had Neil McCallum trapped leg before.

Lancashire's South African Kolpak batsman Francois Du Plessis - making his limited overs debut - also completed a very smart caught-and-bowled chance to account for Blain.

It was left to Flintoff to take the final two wickets of the innings, while England colleague James Anderson finished with figures of 0-33 off eight overs.

After looking odds on to win the game at tea, Lancashire were then reduced to 44 for seven.

Luke Sutton and Hogg, 66 not out, put on 71 for the eighth wicket before Sutton and Simon Marshall both departed.

Anderson needed to hit a boundary off the last ball but Gordon Drummond kept his nerve and Scotland had their win.