Lightning target CB40 progress

Lancashire all-rounder Steven Croft is targeting a crucial victory in Sunday’s CB40 Group A clash with the Netherlands at Old Trafford (Match Betting – Lancashire 1/5, Netherlands 10/3 with bet365).

The Lightning have won six of their eight matches in the competition so far and are well placed to qualify for the semi-finals.

And they can move a step closer to qualification with victory over the Dutch on home turf tomorrow.

“The lads are really looking forward to the game. We have a week of training behind us, so we will be fresh and hungry,” said Croft, who made his first-grade debut for the county in 2005.

“We also owe them one for the away leg of the match and can’t wait to play them at Old Trafford. Another win will put us in a great position and hopefully from there we can get on a roll to a final spot.”

The Dutch triumphed when the two teams met in Rotterdam in May, with home batsman Michael Swart leading the way for the Dutch with 41.

But Lancashire have shown good form in the competition since the defeat and appear to have laid some demons to rest to rest following their exit from the T20 tournament (Sussex 9/4 favourites to win the T20 tournament with bet365).

The Lightning’s last outing came in the County Championship last week, when they drew with Somerset. Ashwell Price hit a century in that game and he will undoubtedly be keen to carry that form with him into the shorter format.

Breese wary of wounded Somerset

Durham all-rounder Gareth Breese feels Somerset will provide tough opposition in Sunday’s CB40 semi-final despite missing Marcus Trescothick (Somerset 5/2 Tournament Outright with bet365).

Trescothick has been ruled out of the clash with an ankle injury, meaning the West Country outfit will be without their skipper and best batsmen for the Taunton clash.

Durham know all about Trescothick’s ability, having been on the wrong end of a massive century by the left-hander earlier in the season, but he will play no part in the contest.

However, Somerset can still boast an array of talent in their squad, with the likes of Nick Compton, James Hildreth, Alfonso Thomas, Charl Willoughby and Murali Kartik and Breese is expecting a difficult encounter this weekend.

“I don’t think we’ll be looking at the fact that Trescothick isn?t playing as an advantage,” he told the ECB website. “They’ve got a spectacular batting line-up and I am sure they will be wanting to prove they can do well without him.

“They want to prove themselves without Trescothick and we have to make sure we’re ready to counter that. That’s just one thing that we will have in the back of our minds.”

Durham also have a stellar line up with Paul Collingwood now back in the ranks and ex-England ODI keeper Phil Mustard in red-hot form.

Add to that the likes of Graeme Onions, Dale Benkenstein and the impressive Ian Blackwell and the Riverside outfit will be confident of getting the right result and making the final at Lord’s.

Swann pens Notts deal

England bowler Graeme Swann has committed his future to Nottinghamshire (5/1 with Stan James to win 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40 Outright) after signing a new two-year contract with the county.

The 31-year-old has been with the Midlands outfit since 2005, when he joined from Northamptonshire, and has been happy to extend his stay at Trent Bridge until at least 2012.

Swann (5/2 to be England 1st Innings Top Wicket-Taker v Pakistan) has enjoyed a fantastic run at international level in the last two years, taking 97 wickets in 22 Tests and currently third in the ICC Test bowling rankings.

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell admitted that spinner has ‘surpassed my expectations’ with his achievements at international level but is pleased to keep him in his ranks.

Newell said: “I fully expect him to remain centrally contracted by England during the term of this new deal, but he is a player that every county would want on their books and I’m sure he’ll continue to make positive contributions for us whenever he’s available.”

Swann though has surprisingly missed out on a nomination for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award, with no England (6/1 to win 2011 World Cup) player on the list.

The main contenders are South African pair Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, Australian duo Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger, Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag, and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene.