Match report: Northants v Lancs in NCL 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Northamptonshire v Lancashire

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Summary

Lancashire completed their 2003 season with a comprehensive 9 wicket victory against Northamptonshire. Excluding 20/20 "cricket", Lancashire only lost 6 matches all year (2 championship, 3 NCL and 1 C&G) - a remarkable effort from 38 games (16 championship, 18 NCL and 4 C&G) - 3 at home and 3 away. This victory ensured that Lancashire were crowned division two champions for 2003 - an apt reward for such a brilliant season

 

Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat. The wicket was expected to deteriorate, but this theory did not transpire as the game progressed. Tim Roberts fell early for 10, but Jacques and Hussey steadied the ship and scored heavily while the fielding restrictions were in place. Lancashire's spin attack (Keedy, Schofield and Hooper!) reduced the home side to 127 for 4 in the 24th over. Jacques battled on and eventually reached his hundred from exactly 100 balls (12 x 4 & 2 x 6). Chapple returned in the 33rd over and immediately removed Cook and Swann. The hosts only managed to add 63 runs from their final 14.5 overs, and their score of 240 was obviously below par.

 

Lancashire required 5.35 runs per over at the outset. Loye and Sutcliffe destroyed the home attack - (Phillips 0 for 47 from 6 overs and Cawdron 0 for 45 from 7 overs). Both players reached their half centuries in the 15th over. Sutcliffe eventually edged a delivery from Swann to Brophy at first slip (112 for 1 in the 16th over) to offer Northamptonshire a lifeline. However, the run rate had dropped below 4.50 per over, and Law and Loye worked the ball around and scampered faultlessly between the wickets to completely demoralize the Steelbacks. In the 37th over, Law smashed one last boundary for the season, and the celebrations could begin!

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Make no mistake - this was not a bowler friendly wicket. Added to the lightning fast outfield, every bowler was up against it (No maidens in the entire match speaks for itself). To bowl Northampton out for 240 with one ball remaining was a monumental effort, especially when you consider that the home side were 126 for 2 in the 23 over. Carl Hooper joined the attack in the 15th over. He captured the vital wicket of Mike Hussey with his first ball (A thin edge to Hegg stood up at the wicket). In his fifth over, he bowled David Sales (Middle stump). Hooper's final figures were 2 for 33 - truly remarkable when you consider he conceded 1 x 6 and 2 x 4. Glen Chapple's second spell of the game accounted for Cook and Swann within the space of 5 deliveries (2 for 36 from 7 overs). All 4 of Lancashire's remaining bowlers captured 1 wicket

 

Batting Performance of the Day

On his first return to Northampton, Mal Loye struck his maiden NCL century of the season (104*) from 99 balls (11 x 4). Loye only offered one chance to Mike Hussey at first slip (11), but the ball travelled too fast and the fielder did not manage to get a hand to it. Loye shared in partnerships of 112 with Sutcliffe (54 runs from 51 balls 10 x 4), and 131 unbroken with Stuart Law (79 runs from 70 balls 9 x 4). Lancashire scored at over 6.50 runs per over during their innings and consequently won with in excess of 8 overs in hand

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Three individual moments are worthy of a mention

• Stuart Law's pick up and direct hit which accounted for Phillips without scoring
• Gary Keedy's direct strike from the long leg boundary which dismissed Jason Brown also for nought
• Warren Hegg's perfectly timed stumping of Brophy in the 24th over.

 

The outfield was completely parched and very hard. This made it very difficult to dive on. The fielders regularly faced awkward bounce

 

Highlights of the Day

• Winning the division 2 championship
• Hooper's first ball dismissal of Hussey
• Mal Loye's hundred
• The two direct hit run outs by Law and Keedy
• The smile on Warren Hegg's face as he collected the trophy
• Hegg's stumping of Brophy
• Superb running between the wickets
• Winning 9 out of 9 away fixtures

 

Lowlight of the Day

Nothing to report on such a wonderful occasion!

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Nothing to report

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Roberts 0 dropped by Law (Very tough) at 2nd slip - 1 for 0 in the 1st over - Hussey 1*
• Roberts caught Law b Martin 10 - 13 for 1 in the 3rd over - Hussey 3*
• 50 for 1 in the 10th over - Hussey 20* Jacques 18*
• 50 partnership -50 for 1 in the 12th over - Hussey 24* Jacques 29*
• Hussey caught Hegg bowled Hooper 35 - 85 for 2 in the 15th over - Jacques 38*
• 105 for 2 in the 18th over - Jacques 42* Sales 15*
• 52 Jacques from 54 balls (9 x 4) - 121 for 2 in the 21st over - Sales 21*
• Sales bowled Hooper 23 (Middle stump) - 126 for 3 in the 23rd over - Jacques 55*
• Brophy stumped Hegg bowled Schofield 1 - 127 for 4 in the 24th over - Jacques 55*
• 150 for 4 in the 27th over - Jacques 67* Cook 7*
• 50 partnership - 177 for 4 in the 30th over - Jacques 86* Cook 15*
• Cook caught Hegg bowled Chapple 18 - 186 for 5 in the 33rd over - Jacques 92*
• Swann bowled Chapple 7 - 196 for 6 in the 35th over - Jacques 95*
• 200 for 6 in the 36th over - Jacques 96* Bailey 2*
• 101 Jacques from 100 balls (12 x 4 & 2 x 6) - 205 for 6 in the 37th over - Bailey 3*
• Jacques caught Wood bowled Keedy 107 - 216 for 7 in the 40th over - Bailey 8*
• Phillips run out (Law) 0 - 223 for 8 in the 43rd over - Bailey 17*
• Cawdron caught Hegg bowled Wood 2 - 239 for 9 in the 45th over - Bailey 27*
• Brown run out (Keedy) 0 (Attempting to run 2 byes) - 240 all out in the 45th over - Bailey 27*

• Lancashire required 241 from 45 overs @ 5.35 runs per over
• Loye 11 missed chance by Hussey at 1st slip - 31 for 0 in the 6th over - Sutcliffe 18*
• 51 for 0 in the 9th over (Also 50 partnership) - Loye 24* Sutcliffe 24*
• 101 for 0 in the 14th over (Also 100 partnership) - Loye 48* Sutcliffe 49*
• 50 Sutcliffe from 47 balls (9 x 4) - 102 for 0 in the 15th over - Loye 48*
• 52 Loye from 40 balls (10 x 4) - 106 for 0 in the 15th over - Sutcliffe 50*
• Sutcliffe caught Brophy bowled Swann 54 - 112 for 1 in the 16th over - Loye 54*
• 152 for 1 in the 24th over - Loye 69* Law 25*
• 50 partnership - 162 for 1 in the 25th over - Loye 71* Law 32*
• 200 for 1 in the 32nd over - Loye 91* Law 49*
• 50 Law from 53 balls (5 x 4) - 201 for 1 in the 32nd over - Loye 91*
• 100 partnership - 215 for 1 in the 34th over - Loye 99* Law 56*
• 100 Loye from 95 balls (11 x 4) - 216 for 1 in the 34th over - Law 56*
• 243 for 1 in the 37th over - Loye 104* Law 79*
• Lancashire 4 points, beat Northamptonshire 0 points by 9 wickets
• Lancashire division two champions for 2003

 

Men of the Match

And.......

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Neil Adams http://www.cricketimages.co.uk/adams-report/intro.html)