Lancashire began their Twenty20 Cup campaign with a crushing victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.

With a place in a new, money-spinning Twenty20 Champions League at stake for the finalists, Lightning opted to bat first and made a competitive 157-7.

Francois du Plessis top-scored with 45 off 34 balls and then took 2-19 as the visitors bowled the Foxes out for 105.

Steven Croft took three wickets for six runs in 2.2 overs to hand Lightning a 52-run win with 10 balls to spare.

Croft's decisive spell helped ensure Leicestershire lost their last five wickets for three runs in 16 balls.

The two-time winners will look to bounce back against Durham on Friday, while 2005 finalists Lancashire turn their attention to Derbyshire.

606: DEBATE Good to see Croft bowling well, and the new star Du Plessis kicking it with both bat and ball NorthEnder07

Lou Vincent set the tempo by smashing Garnett Kruger for six off the second ball of the match and the New Zealander went put on 24 with Mal Loye for Lancashire's first wicket.

Vincent and Stuart Law shared a second wicket stand of 42 in five overs but when Dillon du Preez dismissed both batsmen, Lancashire's innings began to stutter, particularly against some tidy spin bowling from Claude Henderson and Jeremy Snape.

It needed Du Plessis, whose knock included three sixes, to put the visitors back in command, although they managed only 107 runs in the last 14 overs for the loss of six wickets as Snape finished with 2-18 off three overs.

A target of 158 looked within reach for the Foxes but the loss of HD Ackerman, lbw to England seamer James Anderson in the first over, and then Boeta Dippenaar to Dominic Cork had them on the back foot.

Matt Boyce (31) and Paul Nixon (37 off 32 balls) offered resistance but the hosts' innings collapsed as they slumped from 95-4 to 105 all out.

After Jacques du Toit and Snape were dismissed Croft bowled Nixon and the remaining three wickets fell in rapid succession.