Lancashire got their Vitality Blast campaign up and running with a commanding 72 run victory over Durham at Emirates Old Trafford.
Last season’s semi-finalists were rarely troubled by their Northern rivals as they produced the kind performance that will make the other teams in the North Group stand up and take notice.
A score of 189-3 always felt an imposing one, Steven Croft and Glenn Maxwell both registering half-centuries. And so it proved, as Durham fell well short of their target, eventually bowled out for 117.
From the moment Dane Vilas won the toss and chose to bat, it was pretty much a perfect day for the Lightning.
Alex Davies struck a quickfire 24, an innings which included two huge sixes off Brydon Carse. He was out to Nathan Rimmington, but that failed to hault the Lancashire momentum as Croft and Maxwell took the attack to the Durham bowlers.
The pair added 93 in just over eight overs in a partnership which provided plenty of entertainment to a large Old Trafford crowd.
Maxwell was the aggressor, striking four sixes. The Australian’s 58 from 31 deliveries was a continuation of his good form with bat and ball since returning to Lancashire from World Cup duty.
He did fall to D’Arcy Short but Croft would press on. Batting through the Lancashire innings and finishing on 65. The all-rounder was ably supported by Dane Vilas (24) and then Josh Bohannon (17) as the Red Rose posted an imperious score.
You sensed that Durham would need a major contribution from Short to have any chance of chasing down their target of 190 to win. However, he was bowled by his compatriot James Faulkner for just five and the visitors already had a mountain to climb.
Ben Raine was run out by Maxwell before Danny Lamb and Matt Parkinson combined to rip apart the Durham middle-order. Scott Steel did at least provide some resistance with 58 but when he was dismissed by Parkinson, his sides already slim hopes were over.
Richard Gleeson removed both Jack Burnham and Liam Trevaskis before Maxwell picked up his second run out of the game as Matt Potts was left well short of his ground.
And it would be Parkinson, rather fittingly, who took the final wicket, having Carse caught in the deep by Croft.
A dominant victory for Lancashire, played out in front of over 13,000 at Old Trafford. An excellent day all-round for all connected with the club.
