Nottinghamshire beat Lancashire by 1 runs – T20 Blast Match Report
Nottinghamshire won by 1 run in the 74th match of 115 in the T20 Blast 2026 at Trent Bridge. A pulsating finish saw Lancashire fall agonisingly short in pursuit of 182, with Liam Livingstone producing a masterclass that proved insufficient in defeat. The result lifts Nottinghamshire to 3rd (6W 3L, 24pts) while Lancashire remain 11th (4W 5L, 16pts) and facing mounting pressure in the group stage.
Nottinghamshire Post 181 – Munsey and Moores Lead the Charge
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bowl, but Nottinghamshire’s batting lineup made them pay from the start. Joe Clarke fell early for 2 at 4/1 in the opening over, but George Munsey seized the initiative with a blistering 51 off 39 balls (6 fours, 1 six) at a strike rate of 131. Munsey’s aggressive approach set the tone, building a crucial 91-run stand with Jack Haynes (17 off 14) before falling at 95/2 in the 11th over.
Tom Moores anchored the middle overs with a punchy 40 off 26 (6 fours) at a strike rate of 154, steadying Nottinghamshire at 147/4 in the 16th over. George Linde then unleashed a late assault – 37 off just 24 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 154 – propelling Nottinghamshire past 170. Benny Howell added quick runs with 12 off 6 (1 four, 1 six) to push the total to 181 for 6.
Jack Blatherwick was Lancashire’s standout bowler with 2/34 from 4 overs, while Liam Livingstone took 1/32 from 4 and James Anderson claimed 1/28 from 4. Thomas Aspinwall (1/43) and Shadab Khan (1/40) were expensive, leaking runs as Nottinghamshire built momentum.
Lancashire’s Chase – Livingstone Heroics Fall One Run Short
Michael Jones started brightly with 16 off 10 (3 fours) before being stumped at 43/1 in the 4th over. Keaton Jennings then took the attack to Nottinghamshire, striking 42 off 29 (4 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 145 to build a 35-run stand with Livingstone. But the real fireworks came from Liam Livingstone, who produced a match-defining 47 off 31 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 152.
Livingstone’s dismissal at 149/3 in the 15th over proved the turning point. Lancashire still needed 32 off 30 balls with wickets in hand, but the loss of their key batter shifted momentum decisively. Ben McDermott (24 off 18) and Joseph Moores (30 off 21, 1 four, 2 sixes) kept the chase alive, building a 51-run stand for the 5th wicket. Moores fell at 178/5 in the 19th over, leaving Lancashire needing 4 off the final ball – but it proved one run too many.
Liam Patterson-White was the architect of Nottinghamshire’s victory with 2/24 from 3 overs, while George Linde took 1/27 from 3 and Benny Howell claimed 1/40 from 4. Mohammad Amir was expensive for Lancashire, conceding 40 from 4 overs without a wicket.
Statz MVP: Liam Livingstone (Statz Rating: 92.8)
Liam Livingstone earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 92.8 – the highest of the evening. His 47 off 31 with the bat kept Lancashire in the hunt throughout the chase, striking at 152 with three sixes. He also took 1/32 from 4 overs with the ball, providing valuable contributions across both disciplines. Despite the defeat, Livingstone’s all-round impact was decisive in a match decided by the finest of margins.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Liam Livingstone (LAN) – Statz Rating: 92.8 | 47 off 31 (SR 152, 2 fours, 3 sixes) plus 1/32 with the ball. Dominant all-round display in a tight contest.
- George Linde (NOT) – Statz Rating: 77.27 | 37 off 24 (SR 154, 3 fours, 2 sixes) plus 1/27 with the ball. Late-order fireworks proved crucial.
- Liam Patterson-White (NOT) – Statz Rating: 57.17 | 2/24 from 3 overs at economy 8. Match-winning bowling under pressure.
- Benny Howell (NOT) – Statz Rating: 55.68 | 12 off 6 (1 four, 1 six) plus 1/40 with the ball. Useful contributions in both innings.
- Jack Blatherwick (LAN) – Statz Rating: 53.79 | 2/34 from 4 overs at economy 8.5. Lancashire’s leading wicket-taker on the night.
Turning Point
The match turned when Liam Livingstone was caught for 47 at 149/3 in the 15th over (ball 15.4). Livingstone had been carrying the chase at a strike rate of 152, and his dismissal left Lancashire needing 32 off 30 balls with the lower order exposed. Though Moores pushed them agonisingly close, the loss of Livingstone shifted the balance decisively in Nottinghamshire’s favour, ultimately costing Lancashire the match by a single run.
Match Context
This was the 74th match of 115 in the T20 Blast 2026 group stage. Nottinghamshire (3rd, 6W 3L, 24pts) pick up a crucial home win to consolidate their position in the top four. Lancashire (11th, 4W 5L, 16pts) will rue how close they came – just one run from what would have been a statement victory. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, and check the bet builder for indicative odds on future encounters.
