Loye leads Lancashire home
Mal Loye swings the ball to leg on the way to a match-winning unbeaten 80 at Old Trafford
Mal Loye hit a magnificent 80 not out to carry Lancashire to a six-wicket Twenty20 Cup win over Durham at Old Trafford.
The Lightning opener reached his fifty off 42 balls, with five fours and two sixes, in pursuit of a testing 150. He went on hit two more fours and another six.
The last time he played against the Dynamos in the Twenty20 Cup, back in 2005, he hit 100 off 55 balls.
Loye was helped by Steven Croft's 49 as the hosts recovered from 35 for three, after Durham had posted 149 for five thanks knocks to Phil Mustard (41) and Gordon Muchall (44no).
After wicketkeeper-batsman Mustard helped his team to 58 off the first six overs, the Lancashire spinners put the squeeze on.
James Anderson had earlier dismissed Michael Di Venuto - brilliantly caught behind one-handed by Gareth Cross - while Tom Smith trapped Dale Benkenstein lbw.
Gary Keedy, Sanath Jayasuriya and Brad Hodge - the trio of Red Rose twirlers - bowled 11 consecutive overs.
Liam Plunkett removes Stuart Law second ball, one of two wickets for the seam bowler
Keedy, undoubtedly the pick of the Lancashire attack, removed New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris with his third ball, and Mustard was going strong when Jayasuriya bowled him middle stump.
Muchall and Garry Park nonetheless added an unbroken 76 to rescue Durham from the depths of 73 for five.
Loye began the home reply with his trademark slog-sweep for six off just the second ball of the innings.
Ottis Gibson responded in his next over by dismissing Jayasuriya, and Liam Plunkett celebrated his England one-day call-up with two wickets in his opening over - one with his first ball - to get rid of Hodge and Stuart Law.
Loye was joined by Croft as they rescued the situation with a fourth-wicket partnership worth 113.
Loye drove and pulled Plunkett for four, but Croft also joined in the fun with a glorious upper-cut over point.
Anderson expects Lancashire, who have never won the Twenty20 Cup, to challenge for the title this year.
“With the squad we have, I think we would be very disappointed not to figure in the final stages of the competition," he said.
Jayasuriya and Hodge are two of the best one-day batsman in the world and, although the weather will play its part, we have great opportunity to do well.”
