WORCESTER (England), Aug 10: South Africa all-rounder Andrew Hall bowled Worcestershire into the final of the C and G Trophy in a dramatic six-run win over Lancashire on Saturday.

Lancashire started the last over at New Road needing just seven runs for victory at 248 for six.

But paceman Hall, specially released from the South Africa Test squad for this match, responded with a double-wicket maiden and created the pressure that led to a run out.

Lancashire, needing seven off six balls, failed to score any at all and lost three wickets in the process. Hall finished with figures of four for 36.

Crucially, Lancashire’s Mal Loye who had taken his team to the brink of victory with an unbeaten 116, did not get on strike until the last ball of the over.

But by then it was too late with Lancashire needing an impossible seven runs off one ball.

Hall said he would be available for the Aug 30 Lord’s final against Gloucestershire.

Earlier Graeme Hick’s 97 was the centrepiece of Worcestershire’s 254 for five from 50 overs, in what was the former England batsman’s first major innings after two months out with a broken hand.

Summarised scores:

WORCESTERSHIRE 254-5 (G.A. Hick 97, A. Singh 63);

LANCASHIRE 248-9 (M.B. Loye 116 not out; A.J. Hall 4-36).—AFP