Green shines as Lightning win battle of top two

CHRIS Green starred with bat and ball as Lancashire Lightning won the battle of the top two in the Vitality Blast North group to put themselves on the verge of qualification for the quarter finals while defeat leaves Durham fighting it out for one of the remaining top four spots with two games left.

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Colin Ackerman with 42 and Ollie Robinson (35) were the mainstays in Durham's 155-7 but a vital contribution of 20 off the final two overs from Matthew Potts and Will Rhodes also gave their innings an important late boost.

Green, who earlier had taken 3-15 for the Lightning, came in with the hosts struggling on 107-5 needing 49 runs from 37 balls on a slowish pitch. The Australian all-rounder hit 31 off 16 balls including 2 sixes and 3 fours, gaining good support from Tom Hartley (7 not out) that finally turned the game in Lancashire's favour with the Lightning finishing on 156-7, skipper Keaton Jennings making 42, to win a tense encounter with eight balls to spare.

Lancashire lost Phil Salt for 2 in the first over, but Jos Buttler and Jennings combined to take 17 runs from Parkinson's second over, Buttler reverse sweeping a six, to get the Lightning reply swiftly up and running.