Match report Hants v Lancs totesport League 2004 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Hampshire v Lancashire

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Summary

A dry mouth, sweaty hands and finding yourself sat on the edge of your seat are clear indications of an exhilarating game of one-day cricket. This was most definitely the case in this totesport division one encounter against Hampshire. On a very poor pitch, where the ball generally held the upper hand, the pendulum swung throughout the course of ninety engrossing overs.

 

Warren Hegg called incorrectly at the toss and found himself being asked to bat first. The outfield was exceptionally slow, the bounce unpredictable and the sideways movement prodigious. Not surprisingly, run accumulation was virtually impossible, whilst a clatter of wickets fell almost ruining the game as a spectacle within the first 15 overs. Mal Loye (11) was adjudged caught behind in the 4th over. He never hit the ball (13-1). Iain Sutcliffe (1) chased a slightly wide ball from Alan Mullally in the 8th over and was comfortably caught at first slip by Lamb (19-2). Mark Chilton (0) offered simple catching practice for Mascarenhas in the 9th over, merely chipping the ball back to the bowler (20-3). Carl Hooper struggled for over eight overs at the crease for his 3 runs. Another indication of how the ball was in complete control. In a desperate bid to break the shackles, Hooper forced a ball from Tremlett off the back foot to Shaun Udal fielding at point. Unfortunately, the Hampshire spinner held a smart catch (36-4).

 

In the 19th over, controversy struck when Stuart Law was given out caught behind for 16. Umpire Evans eventually raised his finger following a long loud appeal from all of Hampshire close fielders, and Law started the walk back to the pavilion. However, in a similar fashion to what happened earlier in the season at Tunbridge (Mal Loye was recalled), Law was asked to return to the crease. Obviously, Nic Pothas's conscience got the better of him. The ball had clearly struck Law on the hip. Alas, Law only managed to add 4 more runs before edging Taylor to Lamb at first slip (49-5).

 

Faced with the prospect of batting through the remaining 24 overs of the innings, Chapple and Cork carefully added 30 runs for the 6th wicket. Both players waited patiently for the odd bad ball and managed to hit a couple of boundaries each. In the 27th over, Chapple's attempted pull shot over deep mid wicket fell 15 yards short of the boundary and Watson held a low running catch (79-6). Skipper Hegg joined Cork at the crease and the pair doubled the score in just 15 overs thanks to Cork's excellent knock of 57 and Hegg's diligent innings of 37. By this time, the Hawks had managed to concede 13 extras for wide deliveries.

 

Both Cork and Hegg were bowled by Billy Taylor in the 42nd and 44th overs respectively (175-8). Mahmood and Keedy added 7 precious runs from the remaining nine balls, including a leg bye from the final delivery from Mullally, which turned out to be priceless (182-8).

 

One sensed that Hampshire would not find their target score of 183 simple despite the conditions easing very slightly. Shaun Udal (4) was caught by Mark Chilton at point with the last delivery of the first over. Stuart Law was first to congratulate him. A sign of relief considering Law had dropped Udal at first slip with the previous ball (His 10th drop of the season at first slip). Brown and Crawley accumulated runs at a pace just below the asking rate of 4.06 per over and eventually posted Hampshire's fifty in the 16th over. At this stage the game appeared to be slipping away from Lancashire. In Dominic Cork's 4th over, Umpire Evans harshly called wide to a short-pitched delivery which Brown ducked under. Two balls later, Cork bowled another short-pitched delivery which the opener merely fended to Carl Hooper at second slip (57-2). A real sucker punch!

 

Sajid Mahmood was introduced into the attack from the Pavilion end in the 22nd over following three expensive overs from Gary Keedy (20). His first ball was clearly a wide loosener, but Crawley (27) chased it and nicked the ball to Hegg (74-3). Three overs later, disaster struck for the hosts, when James Anderson returned to the attack for a two over burst from the Northern end. Anderson removed Watson (7) with a superb slower ball and two balls later, Lamb making his debut needlessly offered no shot and was adjudged leg before wicket (92-5). Suddenly Lancashire had gained control, but the match was not over yet.

 

Mascarenhas entered the fray in the 25th over and survived Anderson's last ball. (Anderson bowled a double wicket maiden). Unfortunately, Mascarenhas was totally unable to increase the tempo of the Hawks innings. He faced 16 balls for his 6 runs before being completely undone by his 17th delivery, bowled by Sajid Mahmood (110-6). Nic Pothas, who earlier in the season opened the batting at Old Trafford, joined the fully established Watson at the crease. Hooper, who was introduced into the bowling attack in the 29th over kept both batsmen tied down - he never conceded a boundary and only two scoring strokes achieved greater than one run. The run rate climbed above five and then five and half as the innings came to a close.

 

Hampshire required 18 runs for victory from 3 overs with 4 wickets in hand. Truthfully, they should have achieved this target. However, Hooper only conceded one run from the 43rd over. Pothas seemed completely unable to free his arms and hit through the ball. Cork returned for one over from the Pavilion end and Hampshire scored nine runs without loss (176-6 from 44 overs).

 

Nic Pothas (29) played back to the first ball and was bowled by Hooper (176-7) 7 runs for victory from 5 balls with 3 wickets to spare. Watson came down the track and had a word with Tremlett. He wanted strike and Tremlett duly obliged with the second ball. However, Watson failed to score from the 3rd ball, leaving six runs for victory from 3 balls. Watson and Tremlett shared 2 singles from the fourth and fifth deliveries. The Hawks required a boundary from the final ball to win, while 3 runs would ensure a tied game. Hegg adjusted his field slightly. He must have been conscious the last time he found himself in this position (Versus Warwickshire in the semi-final at Old Trafford when Neil Carter hit four to steal the game). Hooper bowled a full length delivery which Watson hit firmly to long off, where Anderson gathered the ball safely and returned his throw to the bowler. Watson and Tremlett did not even have sufficient time to attempt a third run. Hooper removed the bails as a gesture of victory and the travelling supporters roared with delight.

 

Hampshire will sorely regret conceding 14 runs to wide deliveries and failing to score more than one run in the 43rd over. As for Lancashire, this victory could be the turning point for the remainder of the season - phew!

 

Lancashire man of the match (Just) - Dominic Cork for his 57 runs and one wicket. Without his innings, Lancashire would not have had sufficient runs to defend in the first place. It must also be noted that Hegg's captaincy was particularly outstanding. His choice of bowlers throughout the innings, particularly utilising Hooper in the latter phase was both brave and clever.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Hampshire won the toss and elected to bowl
• Loye caught Pothas bowled Mullally 11 - 13 for 1 in the 4th over - Sutcliffe 1*
• Sutcliffe caught Lamb bowled Mullally 1 (1st slip) - 19 for 2 in the 8th over - Law 5*
• Chilton caught & bowled Mascarenhas 0 (8th ball) - 20 for 3 in the 9th over - Law 6*
• Lancashire hit first boundary - 29 for 3 in the 13th over - Law 11* Hooper 0*
• Hooper caught Udal bowled Tremlett 3 (Point) - 36 for 4 in the 18th over - Law 12*
• Law 16 given out by umpire Evans caught behind - Law called back after reaching half way back to the pavilion - 41 for 4 in the 19th over - Chapple 0* - Ball hit hip not bat
• Law caught Lamb bowled Taylor 20 (1st slip) - 49 for 5 in the 21st over - Chapple 4*
• 50 for 5 in the 22nd over - Chapple 4* Cork 0*
• Chapple caught Watson bowled Udal 19 (Deep mid-wicket) - 79 for 6 in the 27th over - Cork 13*
• 100 for 6 in the 31st over - Cork 28* Hegg 5*
• 50 partnership - 129 for 6 in the 37th over - Cork 45* Hegg 13*
• 50 Cork (4 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 141 for 6 in the 38th over - Hegg 18*
• 151 for 6 in the 40th over - Cork 55* Hegg 25*
• Cork bowled Taylor 57 (Off-stump) - 158 for 7 in the 42nd over - Hegg 30*
• Hegg bowled Taylor 37 (Middle stump) - 175 for 8 in the 44th over - Mahmood 8*
• 182 for 8 from 45 overs - Mahmood 10* Keedy 3*

• Hampshire required 183 runs to win @ 4.06 runs per over
• Udal 4 - dropped by Law at first slip (Low to right) - 4 for 0 in the 1st over - Brown 0*
• Udal caught Chilton bowled Anderson 4 (Point) - Brown 0*
• 51 for 1 in the 16th over - Brown 32* Crawley 12*
• 50 partnership - 54 for 1 in the 16th over - Brown 34* Crawley 13*
• Brown caught Hooper bowled Cork 35 (2nd slip with no first slip in place) - 57 for 2 in the 17th over - Crawley 14*
• Crawley caught Hegg bowled Mahmood 27 (Mahmood's first ball) - 74 for 3 in the 22nd over - Clarke 3*
• Clarke bowled Anderson 7(Middle stump - slower ball) - 92 for 4 in the 25th over - Watson 14*
• Lamb lbw bowled Anderson 0 (2nd ball - offered no shot) - 92 for 5 in the 25th over - Watson 14*
• 100 for 5 in the 28th over - Watson 16* Mascarenhas 4*
• Mascarenhas bowled Mahmood 6 (Clipped top of off stump) - 110 for 6 in the 30th over - Watson 21*
• 150 for 6 in the 40th over - Watson 37* Pothas 18*
• 50 partnership - 161 for 6 in the 42nd over - Watson 39* Pothas 27*
• Watson 43 - dropped by Cork at long-on (Low and difficult) - 166 for 6 in the 44th over - Pothas 27*
• 50 Watson (3 x 4) - 176 for 6 in the 44th over - Pothas 29*
• Pothas bowled Hooper 29 - 176 for 7 in the 45th over (First ball of last over) - Watson 51*
• 179 for 7 from 44.5 overs - 4 runs required for victory from last ball - Watson on strike
• Hampshire 181 for 7 from 45 overs - only 2 runs from the last ball - struck to Anderson on the long-off boundary - Watson 54* Tremlett 2*
• Lancashire 4 points beat Hampshire 0 points by 1 run

 

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