Lightning favourites on Finals Day
Source -
bbc.co.uk
The Lancashire Lightning are favourites to claim their first silverware for six years in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup finals day.
The Lancashire Lightning are favourites to claim their first silverware for six years in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup finals day.
But the Lightning will have to reverse last year's semi-final defeat by Surrey and then overcome either Leicestershire or Somerset in the final at The Oval.
The last trophy the Lightning lifted was the 1999 National League crown.
But they boast a side that includes Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds and England's Andrew Flintoff, cleared to play between Ashes Test commitments.
Symonds admitted Lancashire look a daunting side, but said it will count for nothing if the slip up as they did to Surrey last year.
"On paper we should be difficult to beat," said Andrew Symonds.
"But we've got to get out there, do the job properly and give the Lancashire people something they've been looking for for a while."
He told BBC GMR: "It's good for us to have Surrey again so we can hopefully settle a score."
Surrey's big-hitting batsman Ali Brown refused to be daunted by the strength of the Lancashire batting line-up.
"They have got an exceptional side and on paper they will beat us comfortably," said Brown.
"They have got so many match-winners it isn't funny - but we don't play on paper and they came up short last year in a game they should have won."
"We have got players who do not fear failure and we will give it a good go. We will not die wondering."
Leicestershire upset Surrey in last year's final and captain HD Ackerman hopes to pull off a similar victory.
"I don't think many people gave us much hope of getting to finals day," he told the ECB website.
"But the fact we've got there shows we're playing good cricket this season, at least in the one-day and Twenty20 disciplines.
"We've got a good record in Twenty20 especially and that gives us plenty of confidence going into the finals day."
Marcus Trescothick returns from England duty to boost Somerset in the day's second semi-final.
But he will not open the batting as usual because of the prolific form of Graeme Smith and Matt Wood.
"Marcus coming back to play is excellent news and a huge boost for the club," said coach Mark Garaway.
"It's a bit tough on the player who misses out, but whoever it is they will cope with it because they have been part of the squad."
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