A brilliant team display of batting and bowling saw Worcestershire through to a 20-run win over Lancashire in the first semi-final of the Vitality Blast on finals day at Edgbaston.
England star Moeen Ali exploded at the top of the Worcestershire innings, scoring a breathless 41 off just 21 balls (seven fours, one six, S/R 195.23) to take his side to 70-2 off just 7.5 overs.
Player of the Match Ben Cox built on Ali’s great start by scoring a scintillating 55 not out off 34 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes to take his side through to 169-6 off their 20 overs.
Liam Livingstone (30 off 18) and Arron Lilley (23 off 18) got Lancashire off to an equally good start, reaching 62-1 off just 6.4 overs, but they couldn’t keep the momentum going in the face of superb bowling from Ali (2-16, econ 4.00) and Patrick Brown.
The 20-year-old Brown raced through the Lancashire lower order to pick up 4-21 (econ 5.25), taking three wickets in the 19th over to snuff out any chance of a late Lancashire rally.
Keaton Jennings ended on 51 not out (40 balls, three fours, two sixes), as Lancashire ended on 149-9, 20 runs short of their target.
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