The Impressive TimesLondon, May 30 – The 2025 T20 Blast kicked off on Thursday with much-needed wins for Lancashire Lightning and Sussex Sharks, as both teams secured opening-night triumphs in their respective group fixtures.
Lancashire, reeling from a poor start in the County Championship and the recent exit of head coach Dale Benkenstein, overcame Worcestershire Rapids by seven runs at Emirates Old Trafford. Interim head coach and former T20-winning captain Steven Croft oversaw the North Group encounter, where skipper Keaton Jennings led from the front with a half-century, scoring 50 off 30 balls and building a strong 79-run opening stand with Luke Wells.
Despite a late collapse that saw Lancashire lose five wickets for 22 runs, they managed to post 176-8. Worcestershire, despite a 39-run blitz from Kashif Ali and a solid 30 from captain Brett D’Oliveira, faltered in their chase, ending at 169-7. Tom Aspinwall held his nerve in the final over, conceding just seven runs when 15 were needed, securing Lancashire’s first win of the season in any competition.
Meanwhile, in the South Group, Sussex Sharks registered a 16-run win over Middlesex at Lord’s, thanks to a commanding unbeaten 77 from James Coles. His knock off 44 balls helped Sussex reach 202-4, with Coles and Tom Clark (26* off 19) adding an unbroken 88-run partnership.
Middlesex’s chase got off to a rocky start, despite contributions from Ben Geddes (51) and Ryan Higgins, who gave a late scare with a blistering 44 off 16 balls. However, Ollie Robinson’s tight bowling (3-27) and a timely breakthrough in the final over dismissed Higgins and ended any hopes of a comeback. Middlesex closed at 186-7.
The London side continues to struggle in the South Group, having not made the quarter-finals in the past six years and missing out on Finals Day since winning the title in 2008.
The match also marked the Middlesex debut of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who was dismissed for 14 via a spectacular catch at deep point by Harrison Ward.
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