Carter can't save Bears

Neil Carter hits the ball to the boundary during his innings of 92 off 64 balls © Getty Images

Neil Carter put himself in the shop window when making 92 from 64 balls in a forlorn attempt to ease Warwickshire’s relegation worries in the NatWest Pro40 at Edgbaston.

The 32-year-old all-rounder, who could be leaving the club after eight seasons, smashed 76 in boundaries but finished on the losing side as Lancashire edged past the home side’s 253 for seven to win by five wickets.

Gareth Cross launched the chase with his second limited-overs half-century - the first was also against Warwickshire in the Twenty20 Cup – in an opening stand of 122 in 18 overs with Paul Horton.

Both teams followed a similar path, scoring heavily against wayward seam bowling but struggling against spin. Lancashire wobbled when Horton (47) and Mark Chilton gave catches in front of the wicket off Alex Loudon and Cross chopped Nick James to backward point after making 76 from 69 balls.

The young opener hit 12 fours and a six in creating a platform for VVS Laxman’s second successive half-century in the competition.

The India batsman was error-free until he was bowled by Alfonso Thomas for 50 with two runs wanted but Dominic Cork (21 not out) scrambled the winning single from the penultimate ball. Steven Croft’s 39 from 40 balls was equally valuable in restoring momentum.

Gareth Cross was named man of the match for his explosive 79 off 69 balls © Getty Images

In setting a demanding target, Warwickshire were heavily indebted to Carter, whose future was placed in doubt last month when the county intimated it was unlikely he would be offered another contract for next season.

Whether hoping for a change of heart or aiming to attract interest from elsewhere, the South Africa-born pinch-hitter turned on a whirlwind performance in his team’s charge to 123 in the first 15 overs.

Cork, Sajid Mahmood and Glen Chapple were all guilty of errors in length and direction in a damaging period for Lancashire.

Darren Maddy (20) sensibly gave his partner the bulk of the strike before chipping Chapple to mid-on after a stand of 89 and when Carter was finally out, pulling Paul Marshall’s first ball to deep midwicket, he had hit 16 fours and two sixes.

Leg-spinner Marshall and slow left-armer Gary Keedy were better suited to a sluggish surface and succeeded in pegging Warwickshire back with combined figures of four for 66 from 16 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara (25) played round a flighted delivery from Marshall and Tim Ambrose (31) unerringly hit the same bowler to backward square leg.

Keedy achieved belated success in removing Loudon, though this wicket had more to do with Croft’s athleticism in holding an overhead chance at deep midwicket.

Mahmood massaged his figures with a couple of wickets as Lancashire achieved some control in the closing phase.