Lancashire Lightning were left contemplating another Scotland ambush last night after losing a thrilling Friends Provident Trophy game by two runs at Old Trafford.

The side from north of the border escaped with a dramatic last ball win after the Red Rose county could not chase down a modest total of 155-9 in 50 overs.

Scotland have now won their last three visits to Manchester.

All-rounder Kyle Hogg almost pulled the game out of the fire with a one-day batting best of 66 not out. But he was left with too much to do following a horrible top order collapse that saw the hosts fall to 44-7 in the 17th over.

It was cruel on Hogg and Steven Croft, who had hit a six off the final ball to beat Durham on Sunday.

Croft had put Lancs in control yesterday too with career best bowling of 4-26 from ten overs.

Lancashire are still in a strong position at the top of the North Group, but cricket manager Mike Watkinson said: "We have been here a couple of years ago and felt really bad about that. We didn't want to do it again.

"It was a big disappointment because we need to win games like this. That is certainly the truth of the matter."

At the mid-innings interval, Stuart Law's men were resounding favourites to win the game.

But Dewald Nel led the way with 3-26 for the Scots, as Mal Loye, Gareth Cross, Mohammad Yousuf, Francois Du Plessis, Law, Flintoff and Croft all failed with the bat.

Luke Sutton (24) and Hogg put on 71 for the eighth wicket to give Lancs a good chance of snatching victory.

But number eleven batsman James Anderson failed to hit the last ball of the match for four.