Notts Outlaws must beat Worcestershire Royals at Trent Bridge on Friday to guarantee top spot in the North Group of the Friends Life t20 after losing to Lancashire in a rain-reduced encounter at Old Trafford.
Rain delays forced a late start and a reduction to 15 overs with lancashire securing victory with nine balls to spare.
Notts were asked to bat first with Tamim Iqbal and Alex Hales sharing an opening stand of 42 before they were caught out in quick succession. Tamim was caught behind off Keedy's bowling whilst Hales found Saj Mahmood at long-on off Stephen Parry.
Adam Voges (29) and Sami Patel (10) couldn't increase the rate as they chugged along at a run a ball and although Riki Wessels was slightly more aggressive for his 19, the Outlaws' total of 105-5 always looked light.
Stephen Moore was caught by Elstone off Ben Phillips as Lancashire slipped to 9-1 at the start of their reply but a 97-run stand between Smith (45) and Croft (53) saw them home.