Match report day 4: Lancs v Northants in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Northamptonshire

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Summary for Day 4

 

The final day of this match petered out into a very tame draw. Although the loss of 17 overs at the beginning of the day due to very light irritating rain did not help, one can only despair at Northamptonshire's lack of ambition when Lancashire offered a contrived finished to the game. They flatly refused to set Lancashire a target, thus consigning themselves to another useless draw, which merely took them another step closer to division 2 - good riddance to them!

 

Lancashire's only remaining target for the day was to collect as many batting points as possible. Steven Crook (20) edged the second ball of the day to Martin Van Jaarsveld fielding at second slip (215-7) - a poor start. John Wood joined Dominic Cork at the crease and the pair added 63 vital runs for the 8th wicket. Both players passed their previous highest scores for the season reaching 35 and 74 respectively. Cork reached his fifty from 76 balls (5 x 4 & 1 x 6). At lunch, Lancashire were 271 for 7 and a third batting point seemed a distinct possibility.

 

Northamptonshire elected to take the new ball immediately in the afternoon session. Within the space of seven overs, the host's innings was completed. Wood (35) attempted to pull Louw to deep square leg, but only succeeded in offering a simple catch to David Sales at mid-off (278-8). Dominic Cork (74) was caught hooking on the long leg boundary by Louw from the bowling of Shantry in the 97th over, while Keedy (5) fell leg before wicket to the first delivery of the 98th over (284 all out). Oliver Newby did not face any of the bowling and remained nought not out. Northamptonshire had secured a 73 run lead and collected maximum bowling points - big deal!

 

One could not criticize the effort and application shown by Lancashire during the remaining 53 overs of the match. They could easily have switched off owing to the status of the game. Four wickets were taken by the close of play. Roberts (20) edged Keedy to Cork at first slip (47-1), Van Jaarsveld edged Newby to the same player without scoring (50-2). Newby was overjoyed at collecting his first wicket - he deserved it. Usman Afzaal (20) was caught hooking to long leg (96-3). It was a good job Hegg shouted to John Wood to take the catch - he was not fully focused at the time and did not realize the ball was coming to him. Gerard Brophy (67) was bowled by Mongia's first delivery of the innings. The ball seemed to roll back gently into the stumps (108-4). Ben Phillips and Tobin Bailey steered Northamptonshire to close of play at 5.20pm without any further scares.

 

Lancashire did not manage any victories during June from the eight matches they played. One can only hope that the break from the four day arena will allow the team space to refocus, and the list of injured players enough time to recover. The twenty 20 competition really does not matter, but it might help the team gain back some confidence.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Rain stop play until 12pm - 17 overs lost - very light rain spitting in the air
• Crook caught Van Jaarsveld bowled Shantry 20 (2nd slip 2nd ball of the day) – 215 for 7 in the 75th over - Cork 46*
• 50 Cork from 76 balls (5 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 219 for 7 in the 76th over - Wood 0*
• 250 for 7 in the 83rd over - Cork 59* Wood 21*
• 50 partnership - 265 for 7 in the 86th over - Cork 65* Wood 30*
• Lunch - 271 for 7 from 91 overs - Cork 71* Wood 30*
• New ball taken at beginning of 92nd over
• Wood caught Sales bowled Louw 35 (Mis-timed pull which ended up at mid-off) - 278 for 8 in the 95th over - Cork 73*
• Cork caught Louw bowled Shantry 74 (Hook to long leg) - 284 for 9 in the 97th over - Keedy 5*
• Keedy lbw bowled Louw 5 - 284 all out in the 98th over - Newby 0* - 2.06pm – Trail by 73 runs

• Roberts caught Cork bowled Keedy 20 (1st slip) - 47 for 1 in the 12th over - Brophy 27*
• 50 for 1 in the 13th over - Brophy 30* Van Jaarsveld 0*
• Van Jaarsveld caught Cork bowled Newby 0 (2nd slip) - 50 for 2 in the 13th over - Brophy 30*
• 50 Brophy from 67 balls (6 x 4) - 83 for 2 in the 21st over - Afzaal 13*
• Brophy 50 - missed run out chance by Chilton from cover point - 83 for 2 in the 21st over
• Tea - 85 for 2 from 23 overs - Brophy 52* Afzaal 13*
• Afzaal caught Wood bowled Newby 20 (Hook to long leg) - 96 for 3 in the 27th over - Brophy 57*
• 101 for 3 in the 28th over - Brophy 61* Phillips 0*
• Brophy bowled Mongia 67 (Rolled back into stumps) - 108 for 4 in the 31st over - Phillips 1*
• Phillips 17 - Chance to Cork at first slip - 108 for 4 in the 31st over - Phillips 1*
• 146 for 4 from 53 overs - Phillips 26* Bailey 11*
• Lancashire 9 points, Northamptonshire 11 points

 

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