Lancashire take Vitality Blast T20 defeat from the jaws of victory as Glamorgan’s fightback stuns the Red Rose

Glamorgan snatched an incredible last-ball victory in Blackpool – despite a vintage all-round performance from Liam Livingstone – to deepen Lancashire’s gloom at the bottom of the Vitality Blast North Group.

Livingstone had followed a spectacular innings of 81 from 37 balls – including eight sixes, which equalled Lancashire’s record in the format – by taking 3-13 from four overs.

Glamorgan seemed dead and buried at 161-8 after the first ball of the 19th over, needing 41 off the last 11.

Chris Cooke responded with an astonishing innings of 44 not out from 13 balls, including five sixes.

With four needed from the last ball, bowled by Luke Wood, Timm van der Gugten ramped over third man for the match-winning boundary.

It meant Wood, whose last over also included a no-ball, ended with the grim figures of 1-62 from his four overs.

Glamorgan claimed their third win in six Blast matches to climb up the Central and West table, leaving Lancashire with four defeats out of five.

Livingstone’s innings had been spectacular after Glamorgan won the toss and chose to field in blustery conditions.

Umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Hasan Adnan pleased the crowd by keeping the players on despite some heavy drizzle.

Livingstone stroked his first ball wide of mid-off for four and launched his fifth for his first six – the first of four that flew over the wall and into Stanley Park.

His fireworks were given context as partners came and went at the other end.

Ben McDermott (3), Matty Hurst (4) and Joe Moores (8) all fell in single figures, as Jimmy Neesham showed his nous for Glamorgan in taking 3-24.

Livingstone reached his 50 from 28 balls, having hit four of his sixes, and then set about Nathan McAndrew in the 17th over.

That featured three consecutive maximums, over long leg, long-on and deep mid-wicket, with the ball again sailing into the park.

McAndrew had the consolation of ending the carnage when Livingstone holed out to long-on.

However, Harry Singh chipped in with three more sixes in a handy knock of 26 from 16 balls which took Lancashire’s total to 201-7.

That looked set to be more than enough despite a bright start from Glamorgan in reply.

Kiran Carlson (18), Will Smale (26) and Ben Kellaway (32) all made handy contributions, while Sean Dickson hit three sixes in a 31-ball 44.

Nevertheless, Cooke and van der Gugten (nine not out) were able to take Glamorgan to 202-8.

Speaking afterwards, Cooke said: “It’s always special when you win off the last ball of the game – these are the memories you’re going to take with you.

“We’d spoken about treating this like a quarter-final and that’s two games we’ve won off the last ball now, which is a good sign for going deeper into the tournament.

“Things like this can happen on a ground like this, it just takes a few sixes. You’ve got to back your technique – there’s no second guessing.”

As for Livingstone, he admitted his personal performance counted for little in defeat.

“The game’s all about winning and if you don’t win, it doesn’t really matter what you do,” he said.

“I’d rather have bowled two overs for 50 and got a duck to be honest. I don’t really know how we’ve lost it.

“We can’t make any excuses – we should be winning these games of cricket, that’s the simple fact. We’ve got to get better.

“It’s been nice to be playing cricket to be honest, to come back into a place that feels like home for me.

“India was a long time away, but a chance to make a few changes and make my game better than it was at the start of the year.

“It would have been nice to have made a contribution to a win.”