A career-best 51 for Lyndon James was not enough to rescue Notts Outlaws' innings as Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone inspired Lancashire Lightning to an eight-wicket victory. 

James’ half-century and a 53-run fifth-wicket stand with Tom Moores pushed Notts on to a final total of 131/7, after an early onslaught by the Lancashire bowling attack.

Captain Joe Clarke made his 200th career T20 appearance at Old Trafford, but was caught behind early on by Phil Salt off a ball that bounced up more than expected. 

Jack Haynes soon followed, adding three to the total before he was caught at deep square leg by Liam Livingstone off the bowling of Luke Wood.

In the following over, Ben Martindale was bowled by Chris Green for 12 before Tom Hartley came into the Lancashire attack to take the wicket of Matt Montgomery. 

Lyndon James and Tom Moores built a 33-run partnership by the half-way mark which saw Outlaws recover some ground and climb to 62/4.

Moores contributed 26 (24) to the fifth-wicket stand before he was caught by Croft off the bowling of Livingstone, playing some steady shots whilst striking an impressive six down the ground off the bowling of Green.

James kept the total moving as he ran between the wickets well with both Moores and Liam Patterson-White, who also stuck around as he scored 17 (15) as James began to make his mark and race towards his maiden half-century. 

He reached it with his eighth and final boundary of his innings through mid-off before his stand was eventually taken down by the partnership of Liam Livingstone and Luke Wood, the same pair who also took the wicket of Patterson-White in the 12 balls previous.

The Outlaws finished their innings on 131/7 as Calvin Harrison and Luke Fletcher added 10* and 5* respectively. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi made the first breakthrough of the Lancashire Lightning innings when Luke Wells guided the ball into the palms of Montgomery at point in the second over. 

However, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone took control from that point onwards to take away any kind of momentum that the Outlaws gained.

There were chances for Notts to get themselves back in the game as Livingstone was dropped on 5 in the fourth over and then dropped again in the deep on 20.

Salt gave away much less chances, though, as he raced to his half-century off 31 balls before he was caught behind by Moores off Patterson-White for 70 (42).

Lancashire eventually wrapped up the eight-wicket victory as Liam Livingstone scored the winning runs which also brought up his half-century after 37 balls.

The Outlaws will make one final Blast outing for 2024 on Friday night, visiting Headingley for a contest with Yorkshire Vikings.