Vitality Blast: Lancashire Lightning and Sussex Sharks maintain nerves for wins on opening night time | Cricket Information

Lancashire Lightning and Sussex Sharks each saved their cool with tight bowling on the demise to say wins on the opening night time of the 2025 Vitality Blast.

Lancashire have been victors by seven runs at Emirates Outdated Trafford over Worcestershire Rapids within the North Group, whereas Sussex Sharks got here away with a 16-run win over Middlesex at Lord’s within the South Group curtain-raiser.

Lancashire, who opted to not choose Sir James Anderson for a primary home T20 look since 2014, have been indebted to captain Keaton Jennings’ 66 as they posted 176-8 after successful the toss and electing to bat.

Former England Check opener Jennings struck 5 fours and three sixes as he shared in a gap partnership of 79 with Luke Wells (35 off 22 balls).

However Jennings’ innings got here to an finish after a spectacular juggling catch on the boundary by Worcestershire’s Ethan Brookes off the bowling of Tom Hinley.

In reply, Worcestershire had appeared in competition to chase 177 because of Kashif Ali’s 39 off 21 balls on the prime of the order.

However they misplaced the wickets of captain Brett D’Oliveira (39) and Adam Hose (13) in consecutive balls to stutter at 93-4 initially of the eleventh over.

Brookes (28) and Ben Dwarshuis (26no) rallied for the guests to offer them a sniff with two overs to go. However canny bowling from England worldwide Luke Wooden after which Tom Aspinwall, who defended 14 off the ultimate over, noticed Lancashire over the road.

Robinson holds nerve to information Sussex residence

At Lord’s, a blistering unbeaten 77 off 44 balls from Sussex all-rounder James Coles, who hit 5 fours and 5 sixes, helped energy the guests to 202-4 from their 20 overs towards Middlesex.

Australian batter Daniel Hughes (38) and former Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson (22) had additionally given Sussex a perfect platform within the powerplay which Coles took benefit of with pictures throughout the wicket.

Middlesex’s reply obtained off to a lower than splendid begin when new abroad addition Kane Williamson was impressively caught on the boundary by a diving Harrison Ward.

The previous New Zealand captain departed for 14 however Ben Geddes (51 off 37) and Ryan Higgins (44 off 16) counter-attacked for Middlesex after Stevie Eskinazi had additionally struck 34 off 30 balls on the prime of the order.

Nonetheless, final season’s semi-finalists Sussex had England’s forgotten man Ollie Robinson to thank for closing out the win.

Robinson defended 20 to win off the ultimate over, conceding simply 4 runs as he dismissed each Geddes and Higgins.

The suitable-armer claimed figures of 3-27 as Middlesex completed on 186-7.

What’s subsequent?

Friday sees six extra fixtures within the males’s Vitality Blast, together with holders Gloucestershire at residence to Kent Spitfires within the South Group in addition to much-fancied Somerset at residence to Surrey, stay on Sky Sports activities from 6.30pm.

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Friday thirtieth Could 7:00pm

Elsewhere, James Vince returns to Hampshire colors after his choice within the winter to stop his red-ball contract with the county as they tackle Essex.

There are additionally three matches within the inaugural girls’s Vitality Blast because the Tier 1 sides get their campaigns below method with fixtures serving as the primary a part of double-headers earlier than the lads’s sport.

Watch Somerset vs Surrey within the Vitality Blast on Friday stay on Sky Sports activities+ from 6.30pm Friday.