TWENTY20 CUP, NORTH, Old Trafford:
Lancashire 124-4 beat Durham 123-6 by six wickets. Lancs 2pts.

Tom Smith's next Twenty20 game will be in his native city of Liverpool

Emerging opener Tom Smith improved his best score in Twenty20 cricket for the second successive game as Lancashire reeled off a sixth straight win.

Smith hit an unbeaten 57 out of unstoppable Lancashire's 124-4 as they beat Durham with five balls to spare.

Earlier Durham opener Gordon Muchall had batted though for 50 out of 123-6.

The North Division leaders have now all but qualified for the last eight as they take a maximum 12-point haul going into the competition's 18-day break.

Lancashire are now four points clear of second-placed Yorkshire and six clear of the pack.

And, with two of the best third-placed finishers from each group to qualify for the quarter-finals, it would take an extremely unlikely turn of events to deny Lancashire a safe passage to the last eight now.

They resume action with a home tie against Leicestershire at Liverpool on Monday 22 June (1730 BST).

And Liverpool-born opener Smith could not be going back to his native city in better form after another highly promising knock.

The young man, who is keeping the fit-again Mal Loye out of Lancashire's all-conquering side, hit a six and four fours in his unbeaten 57 off 56 balls.

And he was given good support by Francois du Plessis (36) and Steven Croft (20).

Durham, who need to improve after just two wins from their first six games, are back in Twenty20 Cup combat at Derby against the Derbyshire Phantoms a night later (23 June, 1730 BST).

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson gives his verdict:

"Durham's players are convinced they can still get out of the North Division.

"But, following four defeats in six, I am not sure I share their confidence.

"And, on the evidence of what we have witnessed in the competition so far this season, the question must be asked 'Is there any point in Dave Warner actually coming to play in the latter half of the Twenty20 campaign?'

"I hope the answer to that is 'Yes' but, sadly, I have my doubts.

"While Durham have taken nearly all the batting points on offer in their County Championship matches so far this season their one-day batting has been a worry.

"And, if you take out of the equation last year's passage to the Twenty20 quarter-finals and subsequent finals day (the only time they have managed to get out of the group), this year's form mirrors that of all of the other five seasons of Twenty20.

"It's not good enough and time and time again the batsmen are giving the bowlers too little to work with.

"Well done to Gordon Muchall for his run-a-ball 50 but, while he had little support from the rest of the line-up, Lancashire's Tom Smith did.

"His half century ended up winning the game thanks to support from Du Plessis and Croft.

"I'm glad the break has arrived but I'll spend the next 19 days wondering if there is any way Durham can turn things around when the cup resumes."

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