A half century and two wickets from Lancashire’s Luke Wells helped ensure a third consecutive Vitality Blast win for Lightning as they saw off Durham in a nervy rain-affected finish at Emirates Old Trafford.
Wells’ valuable 56 and a classy knock of 60 by New Zealander Darryl Mitchell had seen the hosts recover from six for two after the first over to post 195 for seven.
But a brilliant opening stand of 125 between Alex Lees and Michael Jones had got Durham right back into contention before the rain came with just three overs left and the visitors slightly behind on DLS on 150 for three meaning it was Lancashire who triumphed by just seven runs.
Durham had got off to a brilliant start with Wayne Parnell dismissing Phil Salt first ball with a steepling delivery that hit the edge before the South African had Colin de Grandhomme lbw for 6 three balls later.
With the hosts six for two after just one over a serious rebuild was needed and Wells and Jos Buttler stepped up putting on a third wicket partnership of 51 in just 35 balls that was broken when the England man holed out to Parnell on the long off boundary off Nathan Sowter for 31.
Another rebuild and another international cricketer coming to the crease saw New Zealander Mitchell join Wells as the pair took the score past the 100 mark during a period characterised by some frenzied scampering between the wickets and some delightful straight drives from Mitchell.
Eventually the desire for quick singles was Wells’ downfall as he was run out but not before he had reached an excellent 56 off 39 balls.
With Tom Hartley coming and going quickly for just one it was left to skipper Liam Livingstone to create some momentum towards the end of the innings with a quick-fire 33 off just 17 balls as he and Mitchell produced Lightning’s third substantial partnership of 48 before Parnell got his third scalp with wicket of the captain and Mitchell handed the economical Ben Raine a deserved victim.
With darkening skies and the threat of thunder, Durham got off to a flyer, helped by some wayward bowling and a succession of no balls from Luke Wood and Jack Blatherwick, meaning they were 64 for none off the first powerplay.
The runs continued to flow as first Lees then Jones reached their half centuries before the latter finally skied a catch off Wells to George Bell stationed at cow corner for 50 with the opening stand broken on 125 – Durham’s highest ever first wicket partnership against Lancashire in T20.
Suddenly the game had changed and roared on by the home faithful, Lightning began to turn the screw with Ashton Turner quickly departing for four as he became another victim of Wells’ twirlers to leave the equation 57 off 24 balls and Lancashire crucially ahead on DLS for the first time in the innings.
At the fall of Lees for 78, caught by Buttler off Mitchell, the heavens finally opened. with the score 150 for three with three overs left, Durham seven runs behind on DLS and Lancashire breathing a huge sigh of relief.