Match report: Lancs v Durham in Twenty20 Cup 2003 by Neil Adams

---

Scorecard:

Lancashire v Durham

---

Summary

On a beautiful summers' evening with a clear blue sky, Lancashire edged to victory on the last ball of a thrilling encounter against Durham. This success was particularly satisfying, as the home side had once again collapsed to 91 for 7 and looked to be heading for a fourth defeat in the competition. However, a valiant batting display and a wily bowling spell turned the game around, and set-up a tense finale. Unfortunately, Lancashire's 2 victories and 3 defeats in the 20/20 competition this season were not sufficient to qualify for the last four.

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Glen Chapple 2 for 24, and John Wood 1 for 15 both made super contributions during the early phase of Durham's reply. Gregor Maiden (Making his debut) showed super control and calmness to finish with 2 for 29. Oliver Newby made a brief but expensive debut 0 for 12 from 1 over. Carl Hooper finished with 4 for 18 from 4 overs and turned the game on it's head just when Lancashire appeared to be heading for defeat. He demonstrated his experience and guile to bowl the last over (2 runs conceded only including a wide!). He deprived Jon Lewis of sufficient strike to cause any harm.

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Alec Swann for his battling 56 runs from 42 deliveries (6 x 4 & 1 x 6). Swann is not widely recognised for his "Slogging" ability. However, he combined early patience and sensible batting with a some powerful hits toward the end of his innings. In conjunction with John Wood, the pair added 49 valuable runs for the 8th wicket.

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Mal Loye for his brilliant catch to dismiss Nicky Peng. Running towards the long off boundary from his mid-off starting point, Loye held the ball as it carried over his right shoulder. He was also facing the sun.

 

Highlights of the Day

• Stuart Law's square cut for 6 from Shoaib Akhtar's bowling.
• John Wood's pull for 6 from Shoaib Akhtar's last delivery - he will dine out on that shot for a long time to come!
• Mal Loye's catch.
• Carl Hooper's final over.
• Lancashire only bowled 2 wides including that-one in the final over!!

 

Lowlights of the Day

• Carl Hooper suffering a third successive leg before wicket decision.
• A number of missed catches in the outfield.
• Warren Hegg's missed run out - his throw from a couple of feet from the stumps somehow failed to hit!

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

The crowd provided a hostile reception for Ashley Thorpe due to his fielding misdemeanor in front of the pavilion 2 days earlier.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
• Law bowled Shoaib Akhtar 22 - 38 for 1 in the 5th over - Loye 14*
• Loye caught Peng bowled Plunkett 15 - 40 for 2 in the 6th over - Hooper 1*
• Hooper lbw bowled Muchall 6 - 48 for 3 in the 7th over - Swann 2*
• 52 for 3 in the 8th over - Swann 6* Haynes 0*
• Haynes caught Plunkett bowled Phillips 9 - 67 for 4 in the 11th over - Swann 10*
• Chapple caught Peng bowled Thorpe 3 - 76 for 5 in the 12th over - Swann 15*
• Hegg bowled Thorpe 3 - 85 for 6 in the 14th over - Swann 21*
• Mahmood lbw bowled Thorpe 0 - 92 for 7 in the 14th over - Swann 22*
• 103 for 7 in the 16th over - Swann 31* Wood 1*
• 50 Swann from 38 balls (5 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 127 for 7 in the 19th over - Wood 6*
• Wood smashes Shoaib Akhtar for six in the 19th over
• Swann caught Love bowled Plunkett 56 - 141 for 8 in the 20th over - Wood 14*
• 144 for 8 from 20 overs - Wood 15* Maiden 2*

• Peng caught Loye bowled Chapple 9 - 14 for 1 in the 3rd over - Mustard 5*
• Shoaib Akhtar caught Maiden bowled Wood 0 (First ball) - 18 for 2 in the 4th over
• 51 for 2 in the 8th over - Mustard 25* Muchall 13*
• Mustard 33 dropped Haynes - 61 for 2 in the 9th over - Muchall 15*
• 50 partnership - 70 for 2 in the 10th over - Mustard 41* Muchall 16*
• Muchall bowled Maiden 17 - 72 for 3 in the 11th over - Mustard 42*
• 50 Mustard (7 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 82 for 3 in the 12th over - Love 2*
• Mustard 57 dropped Newby - 89 for 3 in the 13th over - Love 2*
• Mustard stumped Hegg bowled Maiden 61 - 93 for 3 in the 13th over - Love 2*
• Love caught Wood bowled Hooper 2 - 95 for 5 in the 14th over - Pratt 2*
• 100 for 5 in the 15th over - Lewis 4* Pratt 3*
• Pratt bowled Hooper 3 - 107 for 6 in the 16th over - Lewis 7*
• Thorpe bowled Hooper 6 - 125 for 7 in the 18th over - Lewis 17*
• Plunkett bowled Chapple 2 - 136 for 8 in the 19th over - Lewis 24*
• Phillips stumped Hegg bowled Hooper 0 - 137 for 9 in the 20th over - Lewis 24*
• Hegg misses run out opportunity 139 for 9 in the 20th over
• 4 runs required from last ball for a draw and 6 for a win
• No runs from the last ball - 140 for 9 from 20 overs - Lewis 24* Killeen 1*
• Lancashire 2 points win by 4 runs

 

Lancashire Men of the Match

Both Carl Hooper (4 for 18 and 6 runs) and Alec Swann (56 runs) share the award. Both players contributed diverse but equally crucial roles.

 

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