Croft and Laxman run riot

Bilal Shafayat watches Steven Croft take the Nottinghamshire attack apart as Lancashire storm home with two overs to spare

Buy this photo

A club record partnership of 162 between Steven Croft and VVS Laxman handed Lancashire a nine-wicket mauling of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, their eighth win in the Twenty20 Cup.

Croft thrashed nine fours and three sixes in his innings of 83 from 47 balls, while Laxman hit eight fours and two sixes to finish 78 not out off 53 balls.

It completed a fine all-round game for Croft, who had earlier picked up 2-35 and a catch in the Notts innings.

The pair overhauled Notts’ total of 173 for seven with two overs to spare and meant that David Hussey’s explosive 55 from 32 balls was in vain for the hosts, who miss out on third place in the North Division.

Notts saw their innings get off to a poor start as Matt Wood edged a cut off Croft to wicketkeeper Gareth Cross in the third over.

Will Jefferson was yorked by Saj Mahmood and the introduction of Gary Keedy saw Ali Brown fall for 19, as he came down the track and hit straight to Mark Chilton at cover.

David Hussey has his stumps rearranged by Sajid Mahmood, having made 55 off 32 balls in Notts' total of 173 for seven

Buy this photo

That brought Hussey to the wicket and, although Samit Patel was bowled for 37 after hitting two sixes off Stephen Parry, the Australia batsman combined with Kevin O’Brien to add 52 for the sixth wicket in five overs.

O’Brien was bowled around his legs by Croft and Paul Franks was caught at long-on in the next over, but Hussey added to his two sixes off Keedy in the penultimate over with two maximums off Croft, before being yorked by Mahmood off the final ball.

Seamer Darren Pattinson struck in the third over of Lancashire’s reply when Paul Horton gave O’Brien a simple catch at short fine leg, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as Croft and Laxman made hay.

Croft rode his luck as several ugly slogs narrowly avoided fielders and the all-rounder could also have been run out on 61 but for an unusually wayward throw from Hussey at cover.

The 24-year-old finished things off by launching Franks for a straight six before an edge to the third man boundary ended the game with two overs to spare.