Faulkner finishes thrilling T20 tie

Australian allrounder James Faulkner has played an important role for Lancashire in a thrilling quarter-final clash against Kent that finished in a tie.

Lancashire advanced to England’s domestic Twenty20 ‘Finals Day’ - where two semi-finals and the tournament final are all played on the one day, this year on 29 August at Edgbaston – on the basis of losing fewer wickets than their opponents.

Faulkner claimed 2-28 from his four overs to help dismiss Kent for 142, however it was his brief performance with the bat that further enhanced his reputation as a clutch player.

The World Cup champion has become known as ‘The Finisher’ after a number of match-winning performances for Australia's one-day international team.

That Moment: Faulkner the Finisher

In front of a packed crowd at The Spitfire Ground, Faulkner arrived at the crease to face a hat-trick ball from Kent’s Matt Coles needing five runs off the final three deliveries to win.

After failing to score off the first ball he faced, Faulkner then picked up two runs down the ground from each of the final two deliveries to level the scores after their allotted 20 overs and book a spot in the semi-finals.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was the star for the Lightning, scoring 53 from 37 balls in a man-of-the-match performance, while Ashwell Prince’s knock of 62 from 50 balls at the top of the order was just as vital.

“The side’s been on the wrong end of some really close ones this season, so we deserve to get on the right side of one today; it’s a great feeling,” Buttler said post-match.

“It was tough, and it just needed a bit of luck to get us over the line.

“The ball could have hit the stumps and dropped dead and we’d have lost. It’s just such a stupid game!”