Two different worlds but one very impressive week for Keaton Jennings

SAM DALLING AT EDGBASTON: Jennings had been quiet in the group stages, failing to pass 50. But if there is one time to save it for, well, this was it. Any misconception that he is a longer-format specialist is now surely quashed

The only similarity was the strength of the sunshine. 

Much of Keaton Jennings' midweek was spent grinding Somerset's bowlers into red-ball submission. The sedate setting was Trafalgar Road, home of Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club. A healthy but still relatively small crowd watched on, focused equal parts on the square and the ice cream queue. Timing is everything when it comes to 99s. Jennings made a career-best 318.

Finals Day though, is different: different format, different intensity, different pressures. It mattered little to Jennings, though, or at least appeared to. The chase should have been tough. Yorkshire had just made the second highest total in Finals Day's 20-year history, pushing their Roses noses ahead.

But thanks to Jennings, the 205-run victory target was surpassed with eight balls remaining. It had been a formality for a while, with Lancashire having made half the required runs inside eight overs. By the time the opener mistimed Dominic Drakes to a steady Harry Brook at mid-off, he had 75 from 51.

It took little over an hour, a 10th of the time his previous knock lasted. But it meant run-a-ball was all that was needed for a final berth. 

^{Keaton Jennings made 75 against Yorkshire Vikings in the T20 Blast semi-final [Getty Images]}

Jennings had been quiet in the group stages, failing to pass 50. But if there is one time to save it for, well, this was it. Any misconception that he is a longer-format specialist is now surely quashed. And it was always a misconception, really. 

A deft flick off Jordan Thompson saw Jennings finish on the floor, and a boundary achieved.  'modern T20' vibes reverberated around Edgbaston. Two balls later there was a hack over midwicket that had plenty of 'original T20' about it. 

Then with the powerplay's end near, came just a push off Thompson which sailed over long-on for six. All timing. The next ball was a full toss clipped away for four, and then a drive unfurled through the covers ended the sixth. Jennings had 32 off 16, Yorkshire 89. 

From there Jennings could afford to slow down. Clever manipulation at one point left Dom Bess furious at Matt Revis and Will Fraine for not preventing two. A cut brought fifty, Thompson deceived by the spin. 

Fraine was later cut for four, Drakes allowing it through his legs. The fielder at least had the mercy of not being in front of the unforgiving, and usually well lubricated, Hollies Stand.  More delicacy came in reverse sweeping Shadab Khan, and a dance to Bess saw midwicket cleared.  

^{Jennings was followed his fine triple hundred at Southport with this fifty [Getty Images]}

Jennings' frustration was visible as he departed: how he would have loved to see it through. Had he done so, his own personal record for the best individual score on this day (88 for Durham in 2016, the second best by any player in Finals Day history) would have surely been surpassed. But he lifted head and bat as he took a seat, acknowledging the travelling Lancastrians. The job was all but done. 

Finals Day is back. Despite it being the first match, the stands were virtually packed from the outset. There were superfluous flames thrown, Lanky the mascot limbered up for his race by gently teasing boundary riders, and fans on either side of the Roses divide exchanged vocal teasing. 

"We all hate Leeds," rang out when Steven Croft smashed six. "Yorkshire, Yorkshire" came the riposte when he fell next ball. 

A ninth appearance on this occasion and so far, just one trophy. But Lancashire now sit just 40 overs away from doubling that tally. How Jennings, in his 50th T20 appearance for the county, would love that.

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