Lancashire got off to a winning start on their pre-season tour of South Africa, beating an Eastern Province Invitational XI by 7 wickets in a 50 over a-side game today Lancashire bowled first and restricted the home side to 160 due to economical bowling from all of the bowlers especially Gary Keedy and new signing John Wood.

Lancashire recovered from a bad start to their reply losing Mark Chilton early run out for 5.

Ryan Driver and Tim Roberts then built up a steady partnership before Driver was bowled for19 with a ball that kept low. Neil Fairbrother joined Tim Roberts at the crease and saw Lancashire past the hundred mark before Roberts was out for 55.

It was then down to Graham Lloyd to help Fairbrother knock off the remaining runs and they did so timing the run chase perfectively at just over three runs per over. Victory was clinched in the last over with Fairthbrother (51) and Lloyd (24) both remaining undefeated

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