Lancashire relish shoot-out

By John May

Transplant the OK Corral to south London and substitute the Earps and the Clantons for Lancashire and Surrey.

That gives you some idea of the firepower on offer as the big guns of Twenty20 square off to shoot it out.

Like one of the Clanton brothers who missed the original gunfight with a note from his mum, Mal Loye is desperate to take part in the re-run.

TWENTY20 CUP FINALS DAY Saturday, 30 July 1130 BST First semi-final: Surrey v Lancashire 1430 BST Mascot race 1500 BST Second semi-final: Leicestershire v Somerset 1915 BST Final Live commentary of all three matches on BBC Radio Five Live and this website

And in the process, he hopes to change history.

Loye could only sit and seethe as Surrey beat Lancashire by one run in last year's semi-final. This time around he is confident the Red Rose can bloom in a competition that is no longer seen by players as bananas in pyjamas.

"I missed out on finals day last season because of injury" Loye told BBC Sport, "So I'm even more determined this time round."

Those old-time gunslingers knew that it is the coolest hand and the straightest eye that carries the day and in cricket's equivalent, Loye agrees it is the big-shot that can win the prize.

"In Twenty20 perhaps more than any other form of cricket, one player can change the course of a game," says Loye.

"We've certainly got those players, although Surrey have as well."

In a move akin to the Clantons buying sub machine-guns, Lancashire drafted in Aussie Andrew Symonds for the knockout matches, replacing comptriot Brad Hodge.

All that, and Andrew Flintoff, too, after he was given permission to play by the ECB.

"Everyone knows what he can do with both bat and ball, and this is just the sort of big stage he relishes," says Loye.

"Bring somebody like Freddie in and it adds strength to an already pretty powerful batting line-up."

The best way to score runs in Twenty20 is by playing proper cricket shots Mal Loye

Loye himself has been in belligerent form, and his 73 off 32 balls clinched Lancashire's invite to party day with a 17-run quarter-final win over Derbyshire.

For a team that delighted in the status of one-day kings and have scooped up prizes in all short forms of the game, it is a little surprising that Lancashire's name has not been engraved on the Twenty20 trophy.

For all that one man in the mood can swing a game, there is still an important team formula to be worked out.

"I think teams have realised that the most important part of a game is the first six overs of each innings," says Loye.

"That's when you make use of the fielding restrictions and the good teams can get off to a real flier.

"I know some people have scoffed at Twenty20, but players certainly don't; most of us see it as an extension of how you play in the four-day game.

"The best way to score runs in Twenty20 is by playing proper cricket shots. There might be what I call a bit of cultured slogging, but I think this form of cricket can only improve you as an attacking batsman.

Lancs lost by a single run to Surrey in last year's semi

"Even bowlers can learn from this form of cricket instead of just being cannon-fodder for batsman to smack all over the place.

"Bowling straight and accurately is a basic skill that is applied across all forms of the game, and the same goes for making attacking batting strokes."

In trying to put right the history of last year, Lancashire will be hoping one piece of Twenty20 history does repeat itself.

When Surrey lifted the inaugural trophy in 2003, they were the only side to have the week off before the finals. Likewise Leicestershire when they won it last season.

Lancashire are the team with the free week this time round and that could be an omen.

But as Loye says: "It's really about who performs best on the day and can raise their game."

One thing is for sure: there will be no prisoners taken.