T20 Blast 2022 | Joshua Cobb, Steven Croft sign tales as Northants, Lancs register wins

Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire

Result: Northamptonshire won by five wickets

Northamptonshire Steelbacks' skipper Joshua Cobb powered his team to a five-wicket victory over Derbyshire Falcons. Chasing 152 to win, the Steelbacks lost the in-form Chris Lynn on a golden duck. 

However, Lynn's departure did not cause any panic as Cobb took command. His enterprising knock of 70 (44 balls) included six fours and three sixes. Northants crossed the line with about eleven balls to spare as Rob Keogh's 28 (24 balls) saw the team home.

Earlier, the Falcons were rocked by Tom Taylor's three-wicket over. Besides Wayne Madsen (37), no other player could offer enough resistance.

Brief Scores: Northamptonshire 155/5 in 18.1 overs (Joshua Cobb 70, George Scrimshaw 32/2) defeated Derbyshire 151/9 in 20 overs (Wayne Madsen 37, Tom Taylor 27/4, Freddie Heldreich 20/2) by five wickets. 

Lancashire vs Leicestershire

Result: Lancashire won by seven wickets

A dominant blowing performance helped Lancashire Lightning thrash a lacklustre Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road by seven wickets. 

Opting to bat first, the Foxes lost Hamish Rutherford on the very second of the innings. After losing a wicket early, they did not achieve the required momentum needed to post a par total on board. Besides Lewis Hill (50 off 34 balls), none of the other batters could pose a challenge to the opposition. 

Lancashire bundled out the Foxes for 135, with the final breakthrough coming on the first ball of the 20th over. In reply, they too lost Keaton Jennings cheaply in the third over.

However, Philip Salt (38) and Steven Croft (45) stitched an 81-run partnership to take the game out of the Foxes' hands. Dane Vilas (12*) and Tim David (24*) lend the finishing touches to complete a dominant win and strengthen their position on the top of the points table. 

Brief Scores: Lancashire 139/3 in 16.1 overs (Steven Croft 45, Naveen ul Haq 32/2) defeated Leicestershire 135/10 in 19.1 overs (Lewis Hill 50, Tom Hartley 21/2, Matthew Parkinson 27/2) by seven wickets.