Vipers put the bite on Lancashire in T-20

Despite being without their injured skipper Charlotte Edwards the Vipers recovered from 34-3 to reach 132-4 from their 20 overs with the score proving just enough in the T20 clash at Stanley Park.

Vipers were quickly in trouble when opener Georgia Adams was bowled by the sixth ball of the day as Hayley Matthews got one to turn sharply and hit the stumps.

Skipper Suzie Bates soon followed when she slapped another Matthews’ delivery straight to Natalie Brown at point for 15 and when Izzy Collis edged behind off Deandra Dottin’s first delivery, the Thunder looked to be well on top.

But Sara McGlashan had other ideas as the Kiwi international steadily rebuilt the innings with the help of Arran Brindle.

McGlashan hit the one six of the innings as she slapped the unfortunate Kate Cross back over her head with the New Zealander reaching her 50 off 48 balls.

Vipers’ late the momentum into their bowling when Matthews departed in the first over after hitting a Morna Nielsen full toss straight to mid-on.

A topsy turvy game then swung in Thunder’s direction as Emma Lamb and skipper Amy Satterthwaite compiled a second wicket partnership worth 56

When Lamb was run out for 34 going for a suicidal run after hitting the ball straight to Nielsen the game was all but up for the home side.

Skipper Satterthwaite said: “We probably leaked too many runs in the first half of the game.

“We knew it was a slow wicket and it was going to be hard to chase but we still backed ourselves to reach the target as it wasn’t too huge a score.”

*Lancashire’s James Anderson was briefly but controversially absent from the England attack in the Third Test at Edgbaston.

Anderson was ordered to leave the home attack after a third warning for running on the pitch in his follow-through.

It is the second time this year Anderson has suffered the same fate, having also had to sit out the remainder of South Africa’s innings at Johannesburg in January.

Pakistan had a lead of 103 on first innings, but England overtook the deficit without losing a wicket.

At the close England were 120 without loss, a lead of 17. Skipper Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 64, while Hales was not out 50.

*Lancashire second XI beat Scotland A at Stanley Park by eight wickets.