With Buttler still on international duty and Parkinson still injured there were two enforced changes for Lancashire from their previous One-Day match. Steve Croft was recalled not only for his batting but his useful ocassional off-spin and Joe Mennie was therefore recalled to the bowling attack.
Another toss won and another bat first for the home team. It was a relatively quiet power play, with Lancashire moving to 47-0 in considered fashion. Davies played comfortably for 48(64 balls) but the run rate remained under 5 an over. Jennings continued to play sensibly whilst Jones (5) and Croft attempted to increase the scoring rate at the 30 over mark. Croft hit the inning's first 6 in the 33rd over and Jennings got into the act a few overs later dispatching Rolan Jones and then Steven Finn over the extra cover boundary. He then tonked one over long on, third man and extra cover again to take 23 off an over from Ravi Patel. His century came up off 139 balls 4x6 and 9x4.
After a couple more lusty blows, Croft fell for 63 and ended a partnership of 114 for the 3rd wicket. With the middle order coming in on license, Livingstone took 12 of his 26 runs off one over from overseas pro James Franklin (5-79) who then knocked both him and Vilas over in consecutive balls. With Jennings on strike it fell to Patel to bowl the final over which leaked a further 15 runs.
Lancashire ended on 283-5 and Jennings carried his bat for a well paced 125* off 157 (11x4 6x6), with Franklin bagging all 5 wickets.
Clark struck in the 2nd over of the Middlesex reply. and never allowed the batsmen to settle. Joe Mennie came on first change and continued with accurate sustained line to dismiss Franklin and ensure there were no heroics with the bat as well as ball. Shot selection was dubious as the rate climbed above 6.5 and by the time Clark had bowled his allocated 10 overs he had figures of 3-48 and Middlesex were 89-5.
Parry (1-34) and Liley (1-36) then combined to bowl in tandem and whilst expensive they continued to bowl to the plan. As the floodlights took effect, Livingstone 3-16 was introduced ending resistance from Cartwright (62) and the lower order. Middlesex's cup hopes were over and they ended their innings on 174 in just 32 overs.
Lancashire BT Middlesex by 109 runs. MOTM Jennings (125*)
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