Muralitharan bowled a magnificent spell to rein in the Bears

Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowled a magnificent spell to help Lancashire beat Warwickshire by six runs and reach the Twenty20 Cup semis.

Gareth Cross (62 off 35) and Steven Croft (42 off 22) crashed nine sixes between them in adding 97 as Lancashire made a formidable 193-5 at Edgbaston.

Neil Carter blasted four maximums in his 58 to give the Bears hope but he was one of Muralitharan's four victims.

Jonathan Trott (49) and Jim Troughton (29) tried but they ended on 187-7.

After Mal Loye fell in the first over Stuart Law (44) set a brisk tempo with 44 from 31 balls before Alex Loudon dismissed him and Brad Hodge (26) after a stand of 67.

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The off-spinner's last two balls went for six as Cross launched his offensive and three more big hits off Darren Maddy and James Anyon helped the keeper to 50 from 30 balls.

Croft was by no means overshadowed in their 47-ball power show which meant Warwickshire were left facing the biggest total they have conceded in the short format.

They made a good fist of it but their chances were effectively ended by Muralitharan - who had only arrived back in the country earlier in the day after claiming his 700th Test wicket against Bangladesh in Kandy.

Carter drove his second ball straight to long-off, while Tim Ambrose, Tim Groenewald and Alex Loudon were also undone by his off-spin.