Lancashire Lightning opener Lou Vincent cracked a spellbinding century during last night's nine-wicket Twenty20 Cup win over Derbyshire at Old Trafford to etch himself into the record books.

The powerful Kiwi opener thundered eleven fours and three monster sixes in a 63-ball 102 not out to notch Lancashire's highest ever individual Twenty20 score.

Vincent made sure that the Lightning are now joint top of the North Division with Durham after five wins from eight games.

They responded to Derbyshire's below par 153-5 by claiming victory with 22 balls to spare.

Vincent, who was actually dropped for Friday's defeat against Yorkshire, said: "I was delighted with that because the team have really stuck with me after three low scores in a row.

"The boys have kept on telling me that I would be alright, taking the pressure off me. I have ridden the luck a bit and found the middle of the bat. It means a lot to me."

The 29-year-old Auckland-born ace becomes only the third Lancashire player to reach three figures in 20 over cricket, joining Mal Loye and Stuart Law.

He shared an opening stand of 100 with Loye in just ten overs, while cricket manager Mike Watkinson later confirmed that he will be available for Sunday's County Championship match against Sussex at Hove.

Ex-West Indies Test batsman Wavell Hinds had earlier smashed an unbeaten 72 from 52 balls to help the Phantoms to respectability.

He shared a fourth wicket stand of 103 with wicketkeeper DJ Pipe (44), as Sajid Mahmood and Glen Chapple both performed well with the ball.

Chapple picked up two early wickets to finish with 2-23 from his four overs, while Mahmood got two in the last over to record 2-27 from his four. Leg-spinner Simon Marshall claimed the other wicket to fall.

Andrew Flintoff is expected to return to bowling action at some point this week after seven weeks out with a left side strain.

Freddie, who played but did not bat or bowl at Old Trafford last night, will more than likely bowl a few overs in tomorrow's home game against Nottinghamshire.