LANCASHIRE skipper Mark Chilton hailed another sterling all-round display from Andrew Symonds as his team booked their place in the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals last night.

The Australian one-day star hit an unbeaten 57, took a wicket and secured an instinctive run-out to help his side to a 17-run win over Derbyshire and set up a repeat of last year's semi-final against Surrey.

That followed a match-winning debut display against Sussex in the C&G Trophy on Friday and Chilton admits Symonds is an amazing asset to the team.

His reflex spin and throw to run out Graeme Welch was the latest example of his talent and Chilton said: "I'm not sure what else he can pull off really, it's the whole deal with him."

Symonds was also one of the stars of Australia's one-day clashes with England this summer, and Chilton added: "He has looked in really good form and we were delighted to entice him to Lancashire.

"It looks like he is really enjoying himself. He has settled into the team's rhythm well and so far his two performances have been exceptional."

Symonds himself added: "Everyone has stuck their hand out and made me feel very welcome. It's been a real pleasure to come in here to a relaxed dressing room and play on a great ground."

Mal Loye also had a big hand in the win. Loye hit a blistering 77 in just 32 balls to set the Lightning on their way.

Despite winning the toss and deciding to field, things looked ominous right from the off for Luke Sutton and his players.

Loye set about the Derbyshire bowlers with some fabulous stroke play that took his side to 77 for one after the six-over fielding restrictions.

By this time the former Northants man had reached his half-century off just 22 balls, but Stuart Law (10) lost his wicket cheaply - caught behind off the bowling of Tom Lungley.

After reaching his fifty, Loye increased the run rate even more, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Lungley - but the Phantoms hit back by dismissing Loye for 77 and Marcus North for one.

By this time Lancashire's new hero Symonds was at the crease and, at 94 for three, he set about building an innings with the likes of Dominic Cork and Glen Chapple.

The Queenslander, who was the man of the match on his debut against Sussex on Friday, was fairly subdued until late in the innings, when he hit Jon Moss for three sixes in five balls.

A breezy 12 off 10 balls from skipper Mark Chilton boosted the total to 189 for seven - Lungley being the pick of the bowlers with two for 29 in an innings that had no extras.

The visitors then got off to a flyer in the chase, mainly thanks to Michael Di Venuto and Moss.

That was until Lancashire used their trump card - their spinners. Taking the pace off the ball has been their main form of attack right the way through the competition, and it worked again.

Left-armer Gary Keedy got the two key wickets of Moss (29) and Di Venuto (41).

Even then) Derbyshire would not lie down, and Hassan Adnan, in his first Twenty20 innings, carried on the onslaught - but then Keedy struck again.

He had Adnan stumped for 29, and when Symonds snared Phantoms skipper Sutton and brilliantly ran out Graeme Welch that was effectively game over.

Lungley tried to change things with a late 23, but the lack of wickets in hand was always crucial.