DOMINIC Cork fired Lancashire into the quarter finals of the Twenty20 Cup with the second Old Trafford hat-trick of his career.

He sent back Kevin Pietersen, Mark Ealham and Samit Patel in his only over, in a match reduced to eight overs per side because of rain.

Cork's previous treble came in the less hectic environment of Test cricket, against West Indies in 1995.

But the two hat-tricks did have one thing in common -- Carl Hooper, who was one of Cork's Test victims nine years ago, and took the catch which gave him his third wicket.

It was also the second hat-trick in the Twenty20, following Hampshire's Dimitri Mascarenhas earlier this year.

More importantly for Lancashire, Cork's wickets set up a comfortable win, with Notts restricted to 72-5 in their eight overs.

Andrew Flintoff, standing in as captain for the injured Warren Hegg, gave the reply a flying start with 32 off 11 balls, and appropriately Cork wrapped up the win with seven balls to spare.

With Yorkshire losing at Durham, and Derbyshire rained off in Leicester, it meant Lightning finished second in the northern group behind Leicestershire -- guaranteeing them an away tie in the quarter final draw.