A MASTERFUL 78 by veteran David Byas laid the foundations for struggling Lancashire Lightning to gain only their second Norwich Union League Division Two success of the season with a nail-biting one-wicket win against Derbyshire Scorpions at Blackpool.

Chasing 170 to win, Lancashire looked in dire straits at 82 for six, but Byas used all his experience along with useful support from Gary Yates to retrieve the situation.

When he was seventh man out at 137 having hit nine fours and three sixes in his 96-ball stay, Lancashire still had plenty to do but they scraped home with last man Peter Martin hitting the winning boundary off the fourth ball of the 41st over.

Earlier, Derbyshire batted first after winning the toss and were quickly reduced to a parlous 22 for three.

Skipper Dominic Cork (11) helped Stephen Stubbings add 40 for the fourth wicket before he fell victim to Kyle Hogg, clean bowled attempting a forcing shot.

Stubbings did his best to hold the innings together but, with the total on 89, Hogg struck again to dismiss the opener who edged a good-length delivery to Byas at slip after making a solid 39.

Selwood was last man out for a solid 52 as Derbyshire managed to take their innings into the final over. Promising seamer Hogg was the pick of an impressive Lancashire attack with three for 20 off nine accurate overs.

However, in reply, Lancashire made a disastrous start by quickly slumping to 14 for three.

Mark Chilton was bowled for a duck by the third ball of Cork's first over, Alec Swann was trapped leg before by Kevin Dean for two and Neil Fairbrother failed to trouble the scorers before he was caught short of his ground attempting a risky run to Cork.

Byas remained impervious to the carnage as Graham Lloyd, Ryan Driver and skipper Hegg all fell cheaply but he finally found a steady partner in Yates and their stand of 55 for the seventh wicket proved to be crucial.

Byas was trapped leg before on the back foot by the impressive Cork and Yates (32) followed in similar style against spinner Lian Wharton but Lancashire's tail kept their heads to secure a morale-boosting victory.