Lancashire have openly expressed that they are unhappy about Liam Livingstone’s dismissal during their T20 Blast semi-final against Somerset. Livingstone was given out lbw while on 29 runs. He quickly requested a review because he thought he had hit the ball. 

After looking at the replays and using UltraEdge, TV umpire Sue Redfern decided there was no contact with the bat. At that point, Lancashire were 102 for 3 and still chasing strongly. After Livingstone’s dismissal, the rest of the team fell and lost seven wickets for just 57 runs.

On top of these hurdles, they’re also suffering performance-wise as six key players are still not back with them. The absentees include Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Saqib Mahmood, and Luke Wood.

Though frustrated, the team urged the fans to refrain from speaking sexist comments against Redfern. ‘Such behaviour is unacceptable, does not reflect the values of our club or the wider Red Rose family, and has no place in the game,â€?the team said in a statement from their official X account. 

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On day 3 of Lancashire versus Derbyshire in the Rothesay County Championship Division 2, the game ended with Lancashire on top, leaving Derbyshire chasing 374 runs for day 4. Thanks to Ashton Turner’s century, the Lancs managed to take control over their opponents, giving them the edge. 

Ashton Turner’s unbeaten 121 was not a solo effort; his team was behind him. Turner was well supported by George Balderson, who smashed 82 from just 60 balls, and Michael Jones, who added an impressive 63.

Their efforts pushed Lancashire to 406 for 6 before they declared, setting Derbyshire a huge target of 513, which would be their highest-ever successful chase if achieved.

Earlier in the day, Derbyshire’s Ben Aitchison gave his team a lot of hope by taking three wickets, but the Lancs quickly stabilised things. Lancashire batted aggressively, taking their lead past 500 before declaring.

In the end, Derbyshire closed the day on 139 for 3, still needing 374 runs. They had some luck too, with Wayne Madsen and Brooke Guest getting lives after being dropped in the slips. Despite that, Lancashire remained the clear favourite to claim victory, and Derbyshire would need to bat very well just to save the last day's game.

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James Anderson stole the show in his first T20 game since 2014, leading Lancashire to a four-wicket win over Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside. With three for 17 in four sharp overs, the veteran star helped hold Durham to 150 for six. He struck early, taking out both openers and later snatched a key catch at long leg.

Chasing 151, Lancashire got key runs from Michael Jones, who hit 55 against his old side. But the win wasn’t smooth. Durham’s bowlers kept the fight alive, taking the match to the last ball. Chris Green hit a six, and Josh Bohannon chipped in with 31. It was Jack Blatherwick’s quick run on the last ball that sealed it.

With this win, Lancashire stays unbeaten with three wins in a row. Durham, on the other hand, took their first loss of the 2025 Vitality Blast. 

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You saw James Anderson return for Lancashire at Old Trafford, and he did not waste time making an impact. In just 18 balls, he took his first wicket, clipping Caleb Jewell’s off stump. He grabbed another soon after, forcing David Lloyd to glove behind. Anderson ended with figures of two for 24 from five overs. Derbyshire closed the day four wickets down.

Lancashire’s total passed 450, with several batters grinding out runs. But the biggest cheer wasn’t for the top scorers. It was for Anderson, back after nearly a year when he walked out at number 11. Fans watched closely as he warmed up, phones out, eager to see him bowl again. George Bell, who scored 57, summed it up: 'That was class. I always enjoy it when he’s bowling, especially when I’m stood in the slips, something I didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to do'.

Young stars and record-breakers shine elsewhere

At Chester-le-Street, 17-year-old nightwatchman James Minto became the youngest Durham player to pass 50. His 67 helped the team close in on Nottinghamshire’s lead. Alex Lees and Emilio Gay added fifties as Durham moved within 87 runs of levelling the score.

At Hove, Sussex were forced to follow on after a tough first innings. Somerset’s Craig Overton starred with three wickets and three slip catches. Sussex made a strong start in their second innings with a 100-run stand between Daniel Hughes and Tom Haines. But then, they lost four wickets for just 21 runs.

Peter Handscomb scored 79 at Lord’s to give Leicestershire a narrow edge over Middlesex. Zafar Gohar helped with four wickets to keep Middlesex under pressure.

Strong performances build leads across counties

In Cardiff, Glamorgan built a big total with four batters reaching half-centuries like Ben Kellaway, Sam Northeast, Kiran Carlson, and Timm van der Gugten. They then reduced Northants to 49 for three in their second innings. Northants still trail by 190 runs.

Cameron Green stood firm for Gloucestershire, finishing unbeaten on 102 against Kent. His knock gave Gloucestershire a fighting chance after earlier trouble.

At the Oval, Ben Foakes and Australia’s Kurtis Patterson scored in the 80s to place Surrey in a strong spot against Yorkshire. Meanwhile, Over in Birmingham, Warwickshire were bowled out cheaply by Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott. Fletcha Middleton then built on the lead, taking Hampshire’s advantage to 265 runs.

Essex struggled at New Road and bowled out for 157. Tom Taylor led the attack for Worcestershire. But Worcestershire also stumbled, collapsing to 58 for five. Still, they ended the day with a 259-run lead.

From Anderson’s quick wickets to strong middle-order efforts across the country, Day Two of county cricket brought back legends, broke records, and left games finely poised.

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Tom Bailey of Lancashire shocked fans when his phone fell from his pocket during a match against Gloucestershire at Old Trafford on Friday, May 2. He was running between the wickets when the phone slipped out. Bowler Josh Shaw picked it up, but it’s unclear who got it next.

Bailey, 34, came in late to bat as No. 10, hoping to help his side bounce back from three straight losses. The odd moment, caught on video, spread fast online. The commentators were stunned and asked if it would be reported.

Fans online had fun with the scene. One said, 'so village'. Another joked about poor gear. Some guessed Bailey was tracking steps.

Still, he kept his cool and made 22 runs not out. Lancashire closed the first innings with 450 runs. Marcus Harris led with a strong 167. Bailey may now have to explain why he had a phone in his pocket while on the field.

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