Vitality Blast 2019, road to quarterfinals: Lancashire Lightning, Essex Eagles

North Division toppers Lancashire Lightning should have hosted the first quarterfinal of the 2019 Vitality Blast on September 4, against Essex Eagles, who finished fourth in the South Division. However, with the fourth Test of the 2019 Ashes to be scheduled at Old Trafford, the teams will play in a neutral venue, at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street.

Lancashire Lightning

Having stayed unbeaten for the first 8 of their 14 league matches, the Lightning had established a clear lead over other teams in the North Division. They did not concede that lead, and finished 4 points clear of any other side in the North Division.

Their biggest wins came against Durham at Old Trafford (by 72 runs) and against Northamptonshire at Northampton (by 8 wickets). Steven Croft (65* in 43 balls), Glenn Maxwell (58 in 33), Matt Parkinson (3.4-0-30-3), Richard Gleeson (3-0-15-2), and Danny Lamb (4-0-25-2) starred in the first match, and James Faulkner (4-0-36-3), Liam Livingstone (4-0-24-2), and Alex Davies (75* in 58) in the second.

Star players: Matt Parkinson (21 wickets, economy 7.46, joint-most wickets in the league phase), Liam Livingstone (269 runs, SR 135, 13 wickets, economy 7), Glenn Maxwell (291 runs, SR 152, 5 wickets, economy 6.61)

League record: Won 14, lost 2, no result 4, NRR +0.755, rank 1st

Essex Eagles

The Eagles won only 5 of their 14 matches and lost 4, but a late surge pushed them into the top eight. Having won only 2 of their first 10 matches, they needed to pull off a near-miracle – which they did, winning 3 and tying 1 in their last 4. They were up against Kent Spitfires in a virtual pre-quarterfinal on the last day, and Ravi Bopara (47* in 27, 4-0-27-2) saw them through.

The Eagles’ biggest win was their first of the tournament, against Surrey at Chelmsford, by 52 runs. Cameron Delport was in his pomp that day, reaching his hundred in 38 balls and finishing on 129 in 49, pushing Dan Lawrence’s 22-ball unbeaten 57 to the background. Matthew Quinn (3-0-34-3) did the rest.

Star players: Dan Lawrence (345 runs, SR 162), Ravi Bopara (189 runs, SR 163, 8 wickets, economy 7.67), Cameron Delport (309 runs, SR 176)

League record: Won 5, lost 4, tied 1, no result 1, NRR -0.464, rank 4th