Lancashire Secures First Win in Metro Bank Cup 2024: Balderson Shines in Thrilling Victory Over Northamptonshire
Lancashire finally came through, defeating Northamptonshire at Wantage Road with a thrilling four-run win in the 2024 Metro Bank One Day Cup.
With the help of a tenacious half-century from George Balderson, Lancashire ended a six-match losing streak.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard
Northamptonshire 236 for 8 (Broad 63) lost to Lancashire 240 for 9 (Balderson 53, Zaib 3-44) by a margin of four runs.
Lancashire broke a six-game losing trend with a first-round victory in the Metro Bank One Day Cup thanks to a valiant 53 off 67 balls from George Balderson.
After Lancashire was reduced to 152 for 7 against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, Balderson and Josh Boyden (44 not out off 35 balls) shared a vital partnership of 65 runs, including five fours and a six. After the duo’s comeback helped Lancashire reach 240 for 9, they managed to stave off the Steelbacks’ challenge in an exciting and stressful run chase, winning by a mere four runs.
Ben Sanderson made the early breakthrough in this bottom-of-the-table match, dismissing two Lancashire top-order batsmen in five deliveries. Saif Zaib then claimed three for 44 as wickets fell until Balderson and Boyden rallied.
During the run chase, Justin Broad amassed a career-high 63, his maiden half-century on the List A, and he and captain Lewis McManus established a fifth wicket stand of 77 off 81 balls. Boyden (2 for 49) was equally impressive with the ball, ending the partnership by getting rid of McManus. Gus Miller made a valiant 27 but the hosts were still defeated.
In the first over, Sanderson bowled Kesh Fonseka clean and then lifted Josh Bohannon’s stumps as he moved up the pitch for Lancashire. Before he reverse-swept Zaib and top-edged a looping catch to Bartlett at backward point, George Bell (35), hit seven boundaries.
Rocky Flintoff (23) was declared leg before wicket while trying to reverse-sweep after he hit a short ball pitched by Sanderson for four and then dismissed Zaib twice over mid-on. After Lancashire had reached 98 for 5 off 23.1 overs, the left-armer claimed a third scalp when McManus made a superb catch as Venkatesh Iyer edged behind.
With a brilliant opening over Raphy Weatherall and a diving cover, Australian Chris Green (33) pulled Freddie Heldreich dismissively for six. However, he was brought down by another attacking play when he pulled Miller hard, allowing James Sales to make an incredible sliding boundary catch. After that, Harry Singh (8) tried to drive Broad and missed a catch behind, putting Lancashire seven down.
The momentum began to shift in favor of the visitors after that. Dropped deep off Heldreich early on, Balderson quickly found his rhythm, crushing Miller through midwicket and stroking Heldreich down the ground with ease. He also sank his teeth into Sales’ bowling, forcing several balls through the covers.
Weatherall was quite unlucky despite bowling an impressively fast spell. Fielders missed further opportunities as Balderson chipped two successive deliveries just past the young quick’s reach. Boyden hooked Weatherall for six, but Zaib’s effort to make his half-century was even more agonizing for the bowler when he missed a chance on the boundary and Balderson pulled him for six.
When Balderson was finally caught behind trying to get off another shot, Weatherall received the long-overdue and just reward he deserved. Heldreich caught Charlie Barnard off guard, but Boyden finished the innings with a clinical strike against Sanderson for his second six.
Boyden, a former all-rounder for England Under-19, then got off to an equally explosive start with the ball, hitting Sales’ off stump. However, when Prithvi Shaw (age 23) broke through two barriers, he appeared menacing. He also had a stroke of luck when he misplayed a drive off Boyden that went over fine leg for six. He also took a chance with his arm against Barnard, and the ball bounced off the leading edge to subfielder Will Williams, who made a fantastic grab sprinting in from long off.
Bartlett (35), on the other hand, had impeccable style and placement. After guiding Boyden to third for four, he went on to score three straight onside boundaries off Balderson. The first two were brilliant drives through extra cover, while the third was a superbly timed shot that eluded the fielders.
Northamptonshire was making good progress, scoring 32 runs in 64 balls after Broad hit Barnard for four and drove Venkatesh through midwicket. However, Lancashire produced two breakthroughs, removing the Steelbacks’ 89 for four in 23 overs. Bell’s stumpings proved to be the source of both wickets; the first came when Morley beat Bartlett’s bat, and the second came after Zaib danced down the wicket to Green.
McManus came into the game with a purpose, hitting two boundaries in quick succession before hitting Green and Morley for six across midwicket. After hitting Boyden for four, McManus attempted a similar shot to the Lancashire kid and was caught at deep square-leg, causing Broad to lose his partner. Broad went on to reach his half-century off 82 deliveries.
Despite needing 58 more runs to win, Northamptonshire started the final ten overs with a blow when Broad was trapped leg before wicket while attempting to sweep Morley. Due to an injury he received while fielding, Ricardo Vasconcelos (19) had to bat with a runner. He knocked Morley past extra cover and cut Venkatesh square.
Meanwhile, with Northamptonshire needing 21 runs to win going into the final two overs, Miller dismissed Venkatesh for four. Northamptonshire’s case was aided by two wides, but even after Miller caught Venkatesh behind square for four, Vasconelos was caught in the deep, leaving the Steelbacks requiring thirteen off eight deliveries.
Green was run out for 27, even though Miller had hit him for four in the previous over, giving the tailenders far too much work to do with the last two deliveries.
