Warwickshire's last-ball triumph

Not since David Beckham last took a penalty for England has there been such tension. Warren Hegg's brilliant stumping of Shaun Pollock, off the fast bowler Kyle Hogg, had epitomised Lancashire's dedication to winning this last Benson and Hedges competition.

A month ago, at Leeds, they were on the brink of elimination when Yorkshire obligingly committed suicide. It was a blood transfusion for the Red Rose and until the last 10 overs of this overshadowed semi-final they appeared likely winners. Warwickshire, 131 for 6 with 14 overs remaining, were rallied by Dougie Brown and Neil Smith; they lost Smith with 20 wanted, a limping Ashley Giles (sore calf) seven runs later; eight were needed off the last over, Brown was run out with a ball left, three wanted. Neil Carter sweetly swung Glen Chapple for four.

The Lancashire innings, on a dull but reliable pitch, relied upon a fourth-wicket stand of 86 in 21 overs between Mark Chilton and Andrew Flintoff, an almost classic partnership for limited overs, power at one end, concentration at the other.

Neil Fairbrother was unluckily dismissed after carving away a wide, over-pitched delivery to within third man's reach, deep on the boundary. Chapple lasted only two overs before he, too, followed a wide ball to offer a snick behind. Stuart Law excited a small but eager crowd with two crisp square fours off Brown before offering similar treatment to Pollock and was shaken to see gully take a brilliant low catch – 36 for 3.

Flintoff, on 40, chipped rather tamely, to short midwicket, perhaps mis-reading the length. Graham Lloyd never really found the range, Warren Hegg late cut two cheeky fours just wide of the keeper and Chris Schofield was unfortunate to be run out by a direct hit from 30 yards by Neil Carter.

Chilton reached his 100 in the penultimate over. The Lancashire total looked to be about 25 short but when the dangerous Warwickshire openers were removed for 25, the contest tightened significantly.

Pollock threatened to cut loose until Hegg removed him with a strike so swift that the experienced umpire George Sharp had to call for a replay. Ian Bell and Jamie Troughton restored the balance with 70 in 10 overs, taking special toll of Chris Schofield's bowling, until Troughton was beaten by a googly. Bell fell to a running catch at long leg, Trevor Penney mis-timed to mid-on and with 81 wanted off 84 balls, four wickets left, Lancashire's seamers re-established control until John Wood's last over cost 13, leaving 29 needed off 30 balls.