Lancashire win again as rain dominates in Dubai

Lancashire win again as rain dominates in Dubai

Lancashire Lightning reached the final of the pre-season Emirates T20 competition in Dubai, only for rain to prevent a result against the MCC World XI.

The weather played its part throughout the whole day, restricting the three remaining round-robin games to 10 overs a side, as Durham lost their second match of the tournament at the hands of the MCC.

The MCC side, featuring the likes of Alex Lees, Ben Duckett and Liam Plunkett, also defeated Pakistan Super League side Peshawar Zalmi to secure their place in the final against Lancashire.

The Lightning posted a strong total of 90-6 from their ten overs against Lahore Qalandars, in a winner-takes-all contest, thanks largely to a 19-ball 28 from Karl Brown.

Lancashire’s bowlers then delivered a controlled bowling performance to limit Lahore to just 74-4 from their 10 overs, including Stephen Parry’s 1-8 from his two overs.

At the same time, Durham slipped to defeat for a second day running. They posted a solid total of 89-5 from their ten overs, with Jack Burnham making 34 from 20 balls.

But it never looked like being enough against a strong MCC side, who knocked off the total with eight balls to spare. Duckett made 34 and Ben Cox 29 as the Durham bowlers failed to restrict the scoring.

The MCC also picked up a Duckworth-Lewis victory over Peshawar in an action-packed day at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Craig Overton took three wickets to restrict Peshawar to 133 from their 20 overs – in a brief moment of relief from the rain.

The D/L method gave the MCC a final total of 69, one which they reached thanks to Duckett, who top scored once again with 25.

That meant that the MCC progressed to the final of the two-day competition and a meeting with the other unbeaten side, Lancashire. But another storm brought an abrupt end to the day seven overs into the final, leaving Lancashire 33-1 and meaning there would be no winner of the Emirates T20.

It’s just two weeks until the County Championship season gets underway, with Lancashire in action on the opening day against Essex.

James Anderson played all games for Lancashire in Dubai and is available for the game at Chelmsford, where he will bowl at former England Test captain Alastair Cook – as both players have been made available by the ECB.

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