Dane Villas bemoans lack of overseas players and defends Liam Livingstone as Lancashire fall short of Blast final

Lightning looked on course to join Surrey in the shoot-out for the title until Dan Christian smashed four successive sixes

• Notts tee-up Surrey final after Dan Christian fireworks

Lancashire skipper Dane Villas has lamented the absence of the club's overseas contingent as they were defeated by Nottinghamshire in the second T20 Blast semi-final at Edgbaston.

Having set the Outlaws a target of 95 and with Alex Hales and Ben Duckett back in the pavilion they still needed 29 from 17 balls to secure victory.

But Dan Christian took a liking to Liam Livingstone's favourable length, pulling him for four consecutive sixes in the eighth over to all-but take the Trent Bridge club over the line.

Like many sides in the competition, Lancs were without any overseas important for the campaign. Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner were due to return to Emirates Old Trafford but neither deal was fulfilled.

Their resources were in stark contrast to those of Notts, who were able to field both of their foreign signings Christian and Pakistan's Imad Wasim. And Villas believes that strength in depth played a role in the eventual outcome.

"You look at guys like Alex Hales and Ben Duckett up top who have played for England and who have been overseas in other competitions," he said.

"We have got a young squad, some inexperienced players but also some experienced players. Tonight it just wasn't our night.

^{It was a case of deja vu for Liam Livingstone}

"Their overseas (players) stepped up and did the business and that is why you have them come in. Dan and Imad who came into a bowled beautifully. 

"Maxy and Jimmy would have been part our plans had the pandemic not hit and we were looking forward to having them back. They were excited to come back. We did miss them but saying that when we had them last year we only got to the quarter-finals so we've got one step further. 

"They were with us in terms of what they left behind. Their effort and how we want to play our T20 cricket and we use that and channel that energy they bought. They might be back next year which might make a difference."

The manner of Lancashire's exit in Birmingham evoked memories of last year's quarter-final demise. Livingstone took the ball for the penultimate over against Essex and went for 22, including three sixes which all-but secured the win for the Eagles.

"Liam is gutted," added Villas. "Credit to him he stuck his hand up and he wants to be that guy who does well for us. He's done it for us in the past. I was backing him and I was very confident with him tonight. 

"I thought we had a chance the way he was going but it just didn't happen tonight."

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