Smith enjoys Lancs opening role

Smith took a first-class career-best of 6-46 against Yorkshire last week

Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith says he is enjoying the opening batsman's role after the Red Rose County beat Northamptonshire on Tuesday.

Smith took 1-22 before top-scoring with 48, as Lightning won by eight wickets on the Duckworth/Lewis method in a Pro40 match badly disrupted by rain.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "I am really enjoying the opening role.

"In one-day cricket especially it is great, but opening in any form of the game I am enjoying."

Lancashire are top of the second division after three games with two victories already two their name.

The Red Rose county were relegated last season with just one win from their eight matches.

"We are definitely targeting victory in this tournament," Smith added.

"At the start of the season we put it as a tournament we could win, along with every other tournament, but we knew we've got a very strong one-day team.

"This is a tournament where you win a couple of games, a couple get rained off and you're right up there in the mix and we've had a very good start."

Wicketkeeper Luke Sutton is upbeat as Lancashire prepare to meet Hampshire at Southampton in the County Championship.

After their Pro40 win at Northampton, the Red Rose county return their focus to the four-day game 49 points behind leaders Durham.

Sutton told BBC Radio Manchester: "Taking maximum batting points against Yorkshire has admittedly given us a lot of confidence.

We're one of the sides that needs to play exceptionally well for the rest of the year and we are hoping Durham seriously slip

Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton

"It was quite a big milestone for us as it's something we've talked about.

"The last couple of weeks we've sort of been getting better and better.

"So it was a real plus point. When we bat like we did against Yorkshire, we look a very, very solid batting line-up as we should do.

"It's just really important we take that with us down to Southampton because Durham are going to be very hard to catch because they've stretched the points difference and they're playing some very good cricket.

"The truth is we're one of the sides that needs to play exceptionally well for the rest of the year and we are hoping Durham seriously slip.

"They've still got to play Worcestershire, I believe, who are, with all due respect, seriously struggling so I think Durham are going to be tough to beat but we're in and around there with Somerset, Notts and those sorts of teams.

"There's a lot for us to play for, certainly. We just have to play some very good cricket from now until the end of the campaign."