Jofra Archer took two wickets on his county return as Sussex Sharks routed Lancashire Lightning by eight wickets at Hove to cruise into T20 Blast Finals Day.
The England quick claimed 2-20, while Ollie Robinson, James Coles and Brad Currie also took two wickets apiece as Lightning subsided to 114 all out in just 15.3 overs.
Sharks opener Daniel Hughes added a quickfire 35 as the hosts reached their target with just two wickets down and 35 balls to spare.
All the talk was of 29-year-old Archer’s return to Sussex colours for the first time in three years following international commitments and injury.
But Robinson set the tone as he bowled England opener Phil Salt with the first ball of the match.
Lancashire were already 35-3 by the time Archer was introduced after Currie removed Matty Hurst and former Sussex all-rounder Luke Wells in the space of four balls.
Keaton Jennings played well for his 20-ball 37, but when he was castled by Robinson (2-27), the visitors lost five wickets for 14 runs to collapse to 73-8.
Liam Livingstone spared Lancashire a complete humiliation by hitting three sixes in a stylish 43 to take them past 100 before he was run out by Robinson’s direct hit to cap a miserable batting display by the visitors.
Chasing just 115, the Sussex openers were given licence to play with freedom and Harrison Ward lit the touch paper with six fours in a rapid knock of 27 from 18 balls.
Australian Hughes – the leading run scorer in this year’s competition – took his T20 Blast tally for the season to 595 with a 22-ball 35 before he was bowled by Livingstone.
The tempo dropped a little but the result was never in doubt as Tom Clark (24 not out) and Coles (27 not out) eased the hosts to a sixth trip to Finals Day.
Sussex will join Surrey at Edgbaston on 14 September, while the result continues the losing trend for the North Group sides, with none reaching last season’s Finals Day.
