Match report day 4: Essex v Lancs in Championship 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Essex v Lancashire

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Summary for Day 4

After 4 days of exciting cricket, the pendulum finally finished swinging just after 6pm. Throughout the game, both sides experienced periods of control and sensed victory. The draw seemed to be the least likely result after a couple of days play, but the wicket played better as the game progressed. Lancashire batted on for 50 minutes before a declaration was forthcoming. The new ball did not provide any early successes and by lunchtime the game seemed to be heading for a draw. A partnership of 113 between Flower and Habib then offered the home faithful an outside chance of success. Suddenly, Essex's batsmen, who having chosen to "shut up shop" failed to cope with Lancashire's all spin attack and close ring of 9 fielders. As the last grain of sand fell through the timer, Hooper narrowly failed to remove Napier and Lancashire were forced to settle for a draw

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Carl Hooper bowled 3 spells all from the River End - 2 for 21, 0 for 8 and 4 for 22. He captured two crucial wickets in the first over after lunch to ensure Essex were always "Up against it". His final match figures were 9 for 81. If only he could have bowled a couple more overs!

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Chapple and Hegg added 56 runs in 11 overs. The batting techniques varied from all out attack and extravagant stroke play to playing with a straight bat and hitting it back to the bowler. However, Lancashire were facing the new ball for 10 overs. Chapple finished 132 not out from 211 balls (2 x 6 & 11 x 4)

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Very similar to Essex the previous day - everyone except Mahmood fielded well, but as Essex's fourth wicket partnership developed, Lancashire's discipline ebbed away. It suddenly returned when the wickets stared to tumble

 

Highlights of the Day

• Carl Hooper finishing with figures of 6 for 51
• Watching Lancashire surround the batsmen with 9 fielders during the last hour of the game

 

Lowlights of the Day

• Mahmood's dropped catch and generally poor fielding
• Failing to capture the last wicket to win the game
• Hearing that Surrey had won again to extend the lead at the top of the table.
• Lancashire did not use their spinners as much as they should have

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Did Lancashire bat too long on the fourth morning? - Hegg knew that his spinners would bowl alot of overs at Essex's batsmen. He could not risk offering a chase of 350 from 90+ overs. The wicket was playing slightly better and 4 an over was feasible.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• New ball taken after 1 over - 331 for 7 from 90 overs - Chapple 102* Hegg 41*
• 350 for 7 in the 96th over - Chapple 114* Hegg 46*
• 100 partnership - 352 for 7 in the 96th over - Chapple 116* Hegg 46*
• 50 Hegg from 87 balls (6 x 4) - 358 for 7 in the 98th over - Chapple 118*
• 387 for 7 declared - Chapple 132* Hegg 61* - (11.50am)
• Essex set 394 to win from a minimum 83 overs @ 4.75 per over

• Grayson lbw bowled Mahmood 17 - 29 for 1 in the 10th over - Hussain 11* (12.40am)
• 51 for 1 in the 13th over - Hussain 27* Foster 4*
• Lunch - 56 for 1 in the 15th over - Hussain 31* Foster 5* - 338 required from 68 overs minimum @ 4.97 per over
• Hussain lbw bowled Hooper 31 (2nd ball after lunch kept low) - 56 for 2 in the 16th over - Foster 5* - (1.41pm)
• Foster caught Martin bowled Hooper 5 (6th ball after lunch) - 57 for 3 in the 16th over - Flower 1* - (1.42pm)
• 103 for 3 in the 31st over - Flower 17* Habib 24*
• Habib 24 dropped by Mahmood - 105 for 3 in the 32nd over - Flower 19*
• 50 partnership - 107 for 3 in the 33rd over - Flower 21* Habib 24*
• 150 for 3 in the 45th over - Flower 42* Habib 39*
• 100 partnership - 158 for 3 in the 49th over - Flower 46* Habib 43*
• 50 Habib from 94 balls (8 x 4) - 168 for 3 in the 51st over - Flower 47*
• Tea - 168 for 3 in the 51st over - Flower 47* Habib 52* - trail by 226 - 32 overs remaining run rate 7.06 per over
• Flower caught Law b Hooper 49 - 170 for 4 in the 54th over - Habib 52* - (4.10pm)
• Irani 7 caught off a no-ball from Chapple - 189 for 4 in the 59th over - (4.28pm)
• Irani bowled Chapple 9 - 195 for 5 in the 63rd over - Habib 61* - (4.40pm)
• 203 for 5 in the 64th over - Habib 62* Middlebrook 6*
• Habib caught Law bowled Hooper 69 - 219 for 6 in the 69th over - Middlebrook 15* - (5.02pm)
• Middlebrook caught Hegg bowled Hooper 21 - 230 for 7 in the 79th over - Dakin 3* - (5.38pm)
• Dakin lbw bowled Schofield 3 - 230 for 8 in the 85th over - Doeschate 3* - (5.50pm)
• Doeschate caught Swann bowled Hooper 5 - 235 for 9 in the 88th over - Napier 0* - (5.59pm)
• 2 balls remaining of the game only - Brant survives first ball and manages to take a quick single despite Lancashire having a circle of 9 players around the bat
• Napier faces last ball - Hooper bowls and beats the outside edge - so close
• Essex 236 for 9 from 88 overs - (6pm) - Napier 0* Brant 1*
• Essex 8 points, Lancashire 8 points - match drawn

 

Lancashire Man of the Match

Carl Hooper for his 68 runs and final match bowling figures of 9 for 81 - an average of just 9 per wicket

 

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