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

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Hampshire

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Summary

Lancashire collected their first home win of the season thanks to an all round team performance. The win catapulted Lancashire into second place in the division 2 table, and provided an ideal base from which the county can push for promotion. Due to injuries and Test Match selection, Lancashire were forced to play Sajid Mahmood and Steven Crook (Debut). On an overcast and damp day, Lancashire were asked to bat first. The hosts dominated proceedings despite losing 2 early wickets. Neither John Crawley and Wasim Akram were able to save Hampshire from defeat upon their return to Old Trafford, and Lancashire completed a sixth successive win against the visitors.

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Considering the number of runs which were scored in this game, Peter Martin's final figures of 5 overs, 2 for 16 were sensational. Sajid Mahmood coped exceptionally well under the circumstances and finished with 2 for 12. However, Lancashire's bowler of the day was Mark Chilton, who captured 3 for 20, including Hampshire's overseas player Simon Katich first ball.

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Stuart Law blasted 98 runs from 81 balls (3 x 6 & 7 x 4). Law came to the crease in the second over with Lancashire reeling on 8 for 2. He steered the ball into vacant gaps, and smashed anything pitched short and wide to, or over the rope. Carl Hooper scored 51 from 36 balls toward the end of the Lancashire innings.

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Overall Lancashire's fielding was not great. 4 chances of varying degrees of difficulty were put down during the Hawks innings. Warren Hegg's leg-side catch and stumping of John Crawley was exhilarating to watch and confusing for the crowd.

 

Highlights of the Day

• Stuart Laws 98
• Carl Hooper's 6 into the top tier of the Washbrook stand, which forced John Francis to collect it.
• Watching Robin Smith skidding into a large puddle of water on the third man boundary trying to stop the ball - he was completely drenched!
• Watching Lancashire pass 200 - they only managed it twice last season (203 v Essex & 270 v Northamptonshire). Amazingly they reached 231 from just 30 overs - explain that!
• Mal Loye's maximum hit from Wasim Akram's bowling - it was the best shot of the day.

 

Lowlights of the Day

• The number of dropped catches by Lancashire
• The weather - again.

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Not sure why Alec Swann batted ahead of Glen Chapple. Over the last couple of seasons, Chapple has been Lancashire's pinch hitter - surely he would have been a better choice despite being slightly out of touch with the bat at the moment.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Match delayed by 2 hours 25 minutes - starts at 15.25 hours
• Hampshire win toss and elect to field first
• Match reduced to 30 overs per side
• Sutcliffe caught & bowled Mascarenhas 5 - 7 for 1 in the 2nd over
• Chilton caught Pothas bowled Mascarenhas 0 - 8 for 2 in the 2nd over
• Hamblin injured in 3rd over - leaves field
• 51 for 2 in the 10th over - Loye 17* Law 27*
• 50 partnership from 48 balls - 58 for 2 in the 10th over - Loye 24*
• Loye 25 dropped by Mascarenhas in the 11th over - 64 for 2
• 100 for 2 in the 16th over - Loye 38* Law 49*
• 50 Law from 42 balls (4 x 3 & 2 x 6) - 102 for 2 in the 16th over
• 100 partnership from 86 balls - 108 for 2 in the 17th over - Law 53*
• Loye caught Mullally bowled Udal 41 - 110 for 3 in the 17th over - Law 54*
• 150 for 3 in the 21st over - Law 80* Hooper 5*
• 50 partnership from 30 balls - 163 for 3 in the 22nd over - Law 86*
• Hooper hits 6 into the top tier of the Washbrook stand in the 23rd over
• 200 for 3 in the 27th over - Law 97* Hooper 28*
• Law bowled Tremlett 98 from 81 balls - 201 for 4 in the 28th over
• 50 Hooper from 35 balls - 230 for 4 in the 30th over - Swann 7*
• 231 for 4 from 30 overs - Hooper 51* Swann 7*

• Start delayed for 5 minutes due to hail - Hampshire set a revised target of 221 from 28 overs
• 51 for 0 in the 7th over - Crawley 21* Hamblin 24*
• Crawley 36* dropped by Martin - 74 for 0 in the 10th over
• Hamblin bowled Mahmood 28 - 75 for 1 in the 10th over - Crawley 37*
• Crawley caught Hegg bowled Chilton 37 - 77 for 2 in the 11th over - Smith 2*
• Katich caught & bowled Chilton 0 (1st ball) - 77 for 3 in the 11th over
• Smith caught Hegg b Mahmood 2 - 77 for 4 in the 12th over - Francis 0*
• Francis lbw bowled Chilton 0 - 79 for 5 in the 13th over - Pothas 0*
• Mascarenhas 13 dropped by Chapple - 94 for 5 in the 16th over
• 103 for 5 in the 17th over - Mascarenhas 20* Pothas 4*
• Mascarenhas caught Law bowled Chapple 37 - 124 for 6 in the 19th over
• Wasim Akram caught Swann bowled Chapple 0 - 124 for 7 in the 19th over
• Udal caught Crook bowled Martin 2 - 130 for 8 in the 21st over
• Pothas dropped by Martin (Tough chance) - 130 for 8
• Tremlett bowled Martin 1 - 133 for 9 in the 21st over
• Pothas dropped by Martin - 141 for 9 in the 22nd over
• Pothas dropped by Chapple - 142 for 9 in the 23rd over
• 150 for 9 in the 24th over - Mullally 10*
• Pothas caught Chapple bowled Hooper 16 - 150 all out in the 24th over
• Lancashire win by 70 runs D/L method

 

Man of the Match

Stuart Law for his brilliant innings of 98.

 

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