Anderson’s Masterclass Inspires Lancashire to Victory
Lancashire secured their third consecutive win in the 2025 Blast with a thrilling four-wicket victory over Durham at Banks Homes Riverside. Former England bowler James Anderson took 3 for 17 in his first T20 match since August 2014, leading Lancashire to restrict Durham to 150 for 6 in their 20 overs.
In response, Michael Jones played a pivotal role, scoring 55 runs off 41 balls against his former county, steering Lancashire towards a chase that needed a single off the final ball to win. Despite Durham’s late fightback, Lancashire sealed the win with one ball remaining.
Anderson’s Impactful Spell Sets the Tone
Durham struggled from the outset as Anderson bowled a near-perfect spell with the new ball. His ability to stick to a tight line and length had a major impact, dismissing Graham Clark (10) and Alex Lees (16) early on. The opening powerplay saw Durham restricted to 39 for 2 as Anderson’s control prevented any early momentum.
After Ollie Robinson fell cheaply to Tom Aspinwall, Anderson returned in the 11th over to dismiss Colin Ackermann for 18, leaving Durham in a tough spot at 71 for 4.
Neesham’s Late Flourish & Durham’s Fightback
With Durham struggling, Ben Raine (29) and Jimmy Neesham (40*) attempted to stabilize the innings. Their partnership added 33 runs, but the departure of Raine after a mistimed shot left Durham needing a big finish.
In the final two overs, Durham added 28 runs to finish with 150 for 6, but it didn’t seem like enough given the pace of the game and the chasing power of Lancashire.
Lancashire’s Chasing Challenge
Lancashire’s chase began shakily, with Zak Foulkes dismissing Wells (11) and Matty Hurst (4) to leave them 23 for 2 after 4 overs. Despite some tight bowling by Durham, Lancashire improved to 44 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.
With Jones holding the innings together, Lancashire needed 71 runs off the last 9 overs. However, Durham’s bowlers continued to apply pressure, and Ashton Turner (7) was dismissed cheaply.
At one point, Lancashire needed 52 from the last 6 overs, but Jones hit a six off Sowter, clearing the car park to bring the equation down to 45 off the last 5.
The Final Push for Lancashire
Jones brought up his half-century off 35 balls, but his wicket in the 18th over, bowled by Ben Raine, left Lancashire needing 28 from 3 overs. Chris Green added vital runs, including a six off Foulkes, but the equation was still tight as Lancashire needed 8 runs from the final over.
The tension peaked when Bohannon hit a crucial boundary, but he was dismissed in a sensational catch by Neesham. Blatherwick then sealed the win with a scrambled single, finishing off a dramatic contest.
Key Performances & Match Statistics
- James Anderson: 3/17 (4 overs), proving his T20 skills in a match-winning spell.
- Michael Jones: 55 off 41 balls, top-scoring to guide Lancashire through the chase.
- Jimmy Neesham: 40* off 25 balls, contributing with both bat and ball (2/31).
- Ben Raine: 29 runs off 18 balls, playing a pivotal role in the final stages of Durham’s innings.
