Jennings’ chase effort in vain as Lancashire’s knockout hopes end

Keaton Jennings led Lancashire’s chase with a composed knock, but it wasn’t enough as their hopes of reaching the knockout stage were ended. Jennings anchors the chase Jennings steered the innings and held Lancashire together, scoring steadily to keep them in the hunt. Despite his effort, Lancashire couldn’t get over the line and came up short on the day.Knockout hopes over The loss means Lancashire’s knockout dreams are dashed and they won’t progress further in the competition. However, the home side will also go no further after Essex beat Surrey and edged out Lancashire for a spot in the quarter-finals. Having dismissed their opponents for 141, in which Colin Ackermann made a pragmatic 66 not out off 45 balls, Lancashire's reply was uncertain until Keaton Jennings settled the nerves with an unbeaten 41 off 33 balls. Ben Raine took a magnificent 4 for 21 for Durham and the outcome was in doubt until Jennings pulled a Matty Potts full toss into the crowd in the final over. Every attempt Durham made to accelerate in the first half of their innings was frustrated by the regular loss of wickets and the visitors reached the ten-over mark on 62 for 5. Alex Lees was leg-before for one to the ninth ball of the day bowled by Saqib Mahmood, who also bowled Ben McKinney round his legs for 8. Middle-order collapse Durham slid to 105 for 8 in the 13th over. Shadab Khan took 3 wickets, including Brydon Carse for 2 — helped by a great running catch from Liam Livingstone at deep midwicket. Livingstone also took a return catch to remove Kasey Aldridge for 10.Ackermann holds it together. While wickets tumbled, Ackermann batted through. He made a patient 66_ off 37 balls with a 22-run 9th-wicket stand with Callum Parkinson. Durham finished after Nathan Sowter was run out off the last ball.Bowling figures. Saqib Mahmood 3 for 20 and Shadab 3 for 28 did the damage for the opposition. That left Lancashire on 72 for 3 after ten overs and some nerves felt by home spectators were settled by Jennings who put on 22 with Shadab and Matty Hurst, who added another 23 before holing out off Raine. With 23 needed off 19 balls, Joe Moores was leg-before to Raine for 1 to set up a gripping finale. Lancashire 142 for 7 (Jennings 41*, Raine 4-21) beat Durham 141 (Ackermann 66*, Mahmood 3-20, Shadab 3-28) by three wickets