Match report day 2: Lancs v Middx in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Middlesex

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Summary for Day 2

 

On an overcast and bitterly cold morning, Lancashire struck as early as the sixth ball of the day. James Anderson totally out paced Koenig for the addition of just one run to his overnight score, to send the middle stump cart wheeling backwards. (329-6). This success paved the way for Lancashire to place a strangle hold on the visitors innings. Run scoring became torturously slow with any chance of attaining maximum batting points shelved when Klusener fell leg before wicket to Anderson for 2 (347-7).

 

When Chris Peploe (3) edged Chapple to Hegg in the 124th over, the home side sensed an opportunity to capture maximum bowling points (362-8). Three overs later, Anderson induced an edge from Hutchison which carried to Law at first slip. Unfortunately, he failed to hold the ball for the second time in the game, and for the fifth time in championship cricket this season. Obviously, big named players are immune to being relegated to lesser fielding positions. Just how long, and how many chances have to be spilt before someone else takes over at first slip?

 

Mahmood and Keedy required only eight balls between them to wrap up Middlesex's innings. Hutchison (4) fell leg before wicket (379-9), and Hayward slogged recklessly at Keedy's second delivery of the day, offering a simple skied catch to Hooper in the covers (382-10). Mark Chilton and Iain Sutcliffe safely negotiated seven tricky overs before lunch without offering any chances (17-0)

 

Lancashire dominated the afternoon session posting a century partnership in just the 30th over. Both openers struck seven boundaries by the time they reached 50. Make no mistake, batting was not easy. Both Peploe and Dalrymple were extracting assistance from the pitch, and batting on this wicket on the fourth day could be a tricky task.

 

Half an hour before tea, Sutcliffe (59) was beaten in the flight as he advanced down the wicket to Peploe. Nash removed the bails in a flash to reduce Lancashire to 126 for 1. By tea, Middlesex's lead had been reduced to 225 (157-1) with Chilton 75 not out. In the 16th over after the interval, Peploe knocked over Chilton's off stump leaving the opener seven runs short of his century (189-2). His innings contained eleven boundaries and spanned 192 deliveries - a great effort.

 

By the close of play, Mal Loye remained unbeaten on 47 from 127 balls - a very uncharacteristic innings but extremely useful. Law reached 32 not out from 50 balls and was fortunate to survive a dropped catch by Dalrymple at mid-wicket on 20 (253-2). All three results are still possible in this match. If Lancashire can initially secure maximum batting points, and then build a lead of 200 by close of play tomorrow, who knows what Keedy and Hooper might achieve on the final day!

 

Key Notes of the Day

• 50 Nash from 101 balls (4 x 4) - 329 for 5 in the 111th over - Koenig 171*
• Koenig bowled Anderson 171 (Middle stump) - 329 for 6 in the 111th over - Nash 50*
• Klusener lbw bowled Anderson 2 - 347 for 7 in the 119th over - Nash 58*
• 351 for 7 in the 119th over - Nash 58* Peploe 0*
• Peplow caught Hegg bowled Chapple 3 - 362 for 8 in the 124th over - Nash 66*
• Hutchison 3 dropped by Law at 1st slip - 369 for 8 in the 127th over - Nash 79*
• 379 for 8 from 130 overs - Nash 79* Hutchison 4* - No more bonus points
• Hutchison lbw bowled Mahmood 4 - 379 for 9 in the 133rd over - Nash 79*
• Hayward caught Hooper bowled Keedy 1 - 382 all out in the 134th over - Nash 81*

• Lunch - 17 for 0 from 7 overs - Chilton 12* Sutcliffe 5*
• 50 for 0 in the 16th over - Chilton 25* Sutcliffe 18* + 50 partnership
• 101 for 0 in the 30th over - Chilton 40* Sutcliffe 48* + 100 partnership
• 50 Sutcliffe from 95 balls (7 x 4) - 108 for 0 in the 32nd over - Chilton 42*
• 50 Chilton from 108 balls (7 x 4) - 121 for 0 in the 36th over - Sutcliffe 57*
• Sutcliffe stumped Nash bowled Peploe 59 - 126 for 1 in the 38th over - Chilton 54*
• 153 for 1 in the 43rd over - Chilton 72* Loye 8*
• Tea - 157 for 1 from 46 overs - Chilton 75* Loye 9*
• 50 partnership - 176 for 1 in the 58th over - Chilton 83* Loye 16*
• Chilton bowled Peploe 93 (Off stump) - 189 for 2 in the 62nd over - Loye 19*
• 200 for 2 in the 64th over - Loye 21* Law 9*
• Law 20 dropped by Dalrymple at mid-wicket - 220 for 2 in the 73rd over - Loye 28*
• 50 partnership - 244 for in the 78th over - Loye 44* Law 30*
• 250 for 2 in the 79th over - Loye 46* Law 30*
• Close - 253 for 2 from 80 overs - Loye 47* Law 32*
• Lancashire 4 points, Middlesex 4 points

 

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