Liam Livingstone stars as Lancashire ease past Durham

The 25-year-old displayed his all-round ability by taking two for 21 with his combination of off and leg-spin, before striking 70 off just 48 deliveries

Riverside: Durham 139 v Lancashire 140-5 - Lancashire won by five wickets

Liam Livingstone starred with both bat and ball to maintain Lancashire Lightning's impressive start to the Vitality Blast, defeating Durham by five wickets at Emirates Riverside.

The 25-year-old displayed his all-round ability by taking two for 21 with his combination of off and leg-spin, while Matt Parkinson took four wickets to bowl out the home side for 139 from their 20 overs. Livingstone took centre stage with the bat to chase down total, blasting the Durham attack around the park with an innings of 70 from 48 deliveries.

It proved to be enough to take the Lightning over the line, although the ending was tighter than visitors would have expected. However, Lancashire earned their fourth win of the campaign and extending their lead at the top of the North Group.

Durham won the toss and batted first, and Steven Croft could have dismissed the dangerous D'Arcy Short from his first ball, only to drop a brisk return catch. Scott Steel's return from injury did not last long as he fell for six attempting to scoop Saqib Mahmood over the top and was caught behind.

Short and Graham Clark found their rhythm at the crease and guided Durham towards the 50-run mark at the powerplay. However, Richard Gleeson produced a quick delivery that Short skied into the air and was taken comfortably by Dane Vilas moving forward.

Durham's progress was further stymied after the introduction of Parkinson. Ben Raine had swept the first ball of the leg-spinner's over for four, but he returned to pin the left-hander lbw. Parkinson then turned one through Clark's defences in the same over, leaving the home side with work ahead of them at 72 for four.

Alex Lees and Peter Handscomb were forced to rebuild the innings in the middle overs. Both players were finding it difficult to find the boundary and Handscomb's struggles resulted in his dismissal when he caught by James Faulkner off Gleeson.

Skipper Stuart Poynter lost his wicket to Parkinson's spin, while the Lancashire bowler collected his fourth wicket by dismissing Lees courtesy of a fine catch by Croft. Durham edged their way towards 139 before Faulkner ended the innings removing Nathan Rimmington.

The chase required a rate of seven runs per over, and Alex Davies ensured that the Lightning got off to a strong start, finding the boundary from opening two balls of the innings. Livingstone opened his arms and found the boundary with regularity during the powerplay, including dispatching a short Rimmington ball over the head of Trevaskis at square leg.

Matty Potts broke the opening stand with the final ball of the sixth over as Davies chipped tamely to Trevaskis for 24, although he left his team in a strong position at 57-1. Livingstone continued to punish the Durham attack, driving Trevaskis straight over his head for a six to the long-on boundary. The 25-year-old reached his half-century from 28 balls, keeping Lancashire well ahead of the rate.

Glenn Maxwell came and went cheaply, falling to his compatriot Short as he picked out Potts in the deep. The Aussie then notched his second wicket by bowling former Durham man Keaton Jennings to put the pressure on the visitors.

Livingstone's impressive innings came to an end when Trevaskis turned one past the opener, who was stumped by Poynter. However, Vilas and Faulkner calmed any nerves to guide their team to the victory target in the penultimate over.

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network.

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