Preview: Lancashire vs Warwickshire, Metro Bank One Day Cup

Captain Ed Barnard is keen for Warwickshire to build on their “fantastic” win over Somerset last Sunday as they prepare to hit the road for a vital Metro Bank One-Day Cup double header away to Lancashire and Durham.

joshstacey

2025-08-21T15:43:15.000Z

The Bears will face Lancashire at Aigburth tomorrow, knowing that victory over the Red Rose would leave them strongly placed in the group when they continue north to face Durham at Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

The group is still wide open with three games to go. After their two away games, the Bears return to Edgbaston for the final group fixture, against Sussex next Tuesday.

Two wins from the last three matches should be enough to send the Bears into the knockout phase. Three definitely would. But Barnard and his side will put all the possible permutations out of mind tomorrow and focus solely on Liverpool and Lancashire, aiming to emulate their excellent performance at Taunton last Sunday.

Warwickshire’s visit to Aigburth could be a good omen for their Metro Bank campaign. They have visited the lovely Merseyside outground only once before in List A cricket - and it led to a trophy. In 1980, the Bears, captained by Bob Willis, played there in the John Player League and won by nine wickets after a Willis-led bowling attack restricted Lancashire to 173, and a century opening stand by Dennis Amiss and Andy Lloyd turned the chase into a stroll.

Two months later, the Bears completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in county cricket - having finished bottom of the table in 1979, in 1980 they finished top and lifted the trophy.