Post by Admin on May 16, 2018 13:28:40 GMT
The first in a surfeit of one day games over the next 96 days with only a mere smattering of four day stuff, first up Nottingham last years winners so it is going to be s tough task for the team. Suspect we will see early on whether we will challenge in 50 ball cricket have a feeling it won't be our year.
White ball cricket returns to the county calendar, and Lancashire are bidding for a second successive win over Nottinghamshire inside a week having beaten them in the Championship at Trent Bridge at the weekend.
Lancashire go in search of their first piece of one-day silverware since 1999 when they won the Sunday League, although they did win the T20 Blast three summers ago.
This is a blockbuster start to the campaign for Liam Livingstone’s side. They face the defending champions and last year’s limited overs double winners under lights and on Sky Sports (2pm).
Last summer, Lancashire finished fourth in the North with four wins and four defeats from their eight matches. Their haul of eight points was one worse off than the Outlaws, who finished third and went on to win the title by beating Surrey in the final.
Lancashire lost their first three matches before winning four of their last five.
In terms of the road to Lord’s, the final is on June 30.
The top team in each of the two groups advances directly to a home semi-final.
Second and third also qualify for the knockouts, with second playing third in the other group for the right to advance to the last four.
SQUAD NEWS
Jimmy Anderson, who has played the last two Championship matches, is not available as he prepares for England’s forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, starting at Lord’s next Thursday.
A number of Lancashire’s players who have not played Championship cricket so far this season who will come into contention, the likes of Stephen Parry and Karl Brown to name just two, have been playing one-day Trophy matches in the seconds during the last week.
OPPONENTS
Notts enjoyed a season to remember last year as they won the RL50, the T20 Blast and gained promotion back to Division One of the Championship.
A powerhouse batting unit and with a bowling attack led by England seamers present and past Jake Ball and Harry Gurney, they will be fancied for success again in 2018.
But, if Lancashire can win under lights tomorrow, it will really set them up for the rest of the competition.
Notts have started the Championship season well, winning three and losing two of their five matches. They beat Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford during the opening week of the season before losing to Yorkshire at Headingley and the return against the Red Rose most recently.
Steven Mullaney captains the side in four-day and one-day cricket this season, with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor their overseas player.
LAST TIME OUT
The Outlaws won last May’s North Division clash by seven wickets with four overs to spare as they chased a 261 target, with Samit Patel leading the way with an unbeaten 103 off 104 balls.
Lancashire elected to bat, but they did not build on an excellent start of 98-0 inside 17 overs, going on to make 260-6. Opener Karl Brown made 52 and Haseeb Hameed an unbeaten 75 from number three.
Australian fast bowler James Pattinson took two wickets, as did medium pacer Mullaney, who later supported Patel with 77 not out.
Lancashire were very much in the hunt with the ball as the hosts slipped to 84-3, but Patel and Mullaney shared an unbroken 181 to secure the two points.
WHAT THEY SAID
Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone is in confident mood ahead of the clash, admitting facing the champions first up is “a great start for us”.
“We’ve got some lads in decent form, so we’ll start on Thursday and give it everything we’ve got for that competition,” admitted the dynamic top order batsman.
“Notts are a great one-day side, and it’s a great start for us. We don’t need to big it up. At Old Trafford we play some good white ball cricket. Hopefully we can get off to a winning start.
“We haven’t had the greatest run in it for the last couple of years. We obviously finished very strongly last year, but I think we’ve got a great squad for all the white ball stuff, and I think we’re playing some very good cricket.
“It’s been quite tough at the start of the year for a few batters, so I’m sure the change to white ball will free a few people up.
“There should be some new faces in the side. There are lads playing well in the second team, so it’s exciting.”[/font]
White ball cricket returns to the county calendar, and Lancashire are bidding for a second successive win over Nottinghamshire inside a week having beaten them in the Championship at Trent Bridge at the weekend.
Lancashire go in search of their first piece of one-day silverware since 1999 when they won the Sunday League, although they did win the T20 Blast three summers ago.
This is a blockbuster start to the campaign for Liam Livingstone’s side. They face the defending champions and last year’s limited overs double winners under lights and on Sky Sports (2pm).
Last summer, Lancashire finished fourth in the North with four wins and four defeats from their eight matches. Their haul of eight points was one worse off than the Outlaws, who finished third and went on to win the title by beating Surrey in the final.
Lancashire lost their first three matches before winning four of their last five.
In terms of the road to Lord’s, the final is on June 30.
The top team in each of the two groups advances directly to a home semi-final.
Second and third also qualify for the knockouts, with second playing third in the other group for the right to advance to the last four.
SQUAD NEWS
Jimmy Anderson, who has played the last two Championship matches, is not available as he prepares for England’s forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, starting at Lord’s next Thursday.
A number of Lancashire’s players who have not played Championship cricket so far this season who will come into contention, the likes of Stephen Parry and Karl Brown to name just two, have been playing one-day Trophy matches in the seconds during the last week.
OPPONENTS
Notts enjoyed a season to remember last year as they won the RL50, the T20 Blast and gained promotion back to Division One of the Championship.
A powerhouse batting unit and with a bowling attack led by England seamers present and past Jake Ball and Harry Gurney, they will be fancied for success again in 2018.
But, if Lancashire can win under lights tomorrow, it will really set them up for the rest of the competition.
Notts have started the Championship season well, winning three and losing two of their five matches. They beat Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford during the opening week of the season before losing to Yorkshire at Headingley and the return against the Red Rose most recently.
Steven Mullaney captains the side in four-day and one-day cricket this season, with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor their overseas player.
LAST TIME OUT
The Outlaws won last May’s North Division clash by seven wickets with four overs to spare as they chased a 261 target, with Samit Patel leading the way with an unbeaten 103 off 104 balls.
Lancashire elected to bat, but they did not build on an excellent start of 98-0 inside 17 overs, going on to make 260-6. Opener Karl Brown made 52 and Haseeb Hameed an unbeaten 75 from number three.
Australian fast bowler James Pattinson took two wickets, as did medium pacer Mullaney, who later supported Patel with 77 not out.
Lancashire were very much in the hunt with the ball as the hosts slipped to 84-3, but Patel and Mullaney shared an unbroken 181 to secure the two points.
WHAT THEY SAID
Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone is in confident mood ahead of the clash, admitting facing the champions first up is “a great start for us”.
“We’ve got some lads in decent form, so we’ll start on Thursday and give it everything we’ve got for that competition,” admitted the dynamic top order batsman.
“Notts are a great one-day side, and it’s a great start for us. We don’t need to big it up. At Old Trafford we play some good white ball cricket. Hopefully we can get off to a winning start.
“We haven’t had the greatest run in it for the last couple of years. We obviously finished very strongly last year, but I think we’ve got a great squad for all the white ball stuff, and I think we’re playing some very good cricket.
“It’s been quite tough at the start of the year for a few batters, so I’m sure the change to white ball will free a few people up.
“There should be some new faces in the side. There are lads playing well in the second team, so it’s exciting.”[/font]
