Match report: Worcs v Lancs in C&G Trophy 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Worcestershire v Lancashire

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Summary

Lancashire's dream of reaching a Lord's final was shattered in the last over of this pulsating semi-final cup match against Worcestershire. Andrew Hall bowled a double wicket maiden, and also assisted in a run out, as the visitors fell at the final hurdle. Painful memories of the last ball defeat against Warwickshire at Old Trafford last season flashed back as the players left the field. This was Lancashire's 5th successive semi-final defeat - a bitter pill to swallow. Worcestershire's inclusion in this years final ensured a "full house" of NCL division 1 teams in the finals this season (Gloucestershire 2, Surrey 1, Warwickshire 1 Leicestershire 1, and Worcestershire 1) Perhaps the first division of the NCL does contain the stronger one-day teams. Lancashire won the toss and elected to field. The wicket failed to provide any early assistance. Worcester failed to build on a super foundation laid by Singh and Hick (159 for 1 in the 34th over) - The home side stuttered toward 254 for 5 from their 50 overs. An dodgy umpiring decision in the 6th over set Lancashire back - Chilton the unfortunate player. Loye dominated the strike. Law only scored 1 run between the 34th and 70th run. His dismissal came as no surprise under the circumstances. Hooper failed for once - he can be forgiven. Flintoff received the second poor umpiring decision of the day - oh dear John Holder! Schofield smashed 32 from 31 balls including 4 boundaries in one over. Chapple steered Lancashire to the brink of victory with 44 runs (6 x 4). Hegg snatched a single from the last ball of the 49th over. The single was rightly cheered at the time, but perhaps in retrospect it would have been better if Loye had kept the strike. Hegg and Martin fell to the 1st and 3rd ball of the last over. Wood failed to leave his crease on the 5th ball and the game was over. One can only hope this defeat stirs Lancashire on to success in the NCL and the Championship rather than being the catalyst for a late season demise - after all, Lancashire have played very well this season and deserve some reward

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Lancashire alternated their bowlers regularly due to the heat. Martin, Anderson and Flintoff all bowled 3 spells, while Chapple and Wood bowled 2 spells. Hooper bowled 7 overs in a succesion for 38 runs. Flintoff finished with the best figures - 2 for 33 from 8 overs. Anderson conceded 13 runs from the 50th over of Worcestershire's innings including a needless no-ball bouncer

 

Batting Performance of the Day

You have to feel sorry for Mal Loye. He batted throughout the entire 50 overs of Lancashire's innings and finished on 116 not out (9 x 4 & 3 x 6). He was deprived of the strike at a crucial time (Last over - first 5 balls). Loye played through 5 maidens in the game (3 from Mason, 1 from Ali and 1 from Batty). He reached his fifty from just 57 balls and his 100 from 137 balls.

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

A very tough day in the field for Lancashire especially considering the temperature (36 degrees). Hegg dropped Hick before he reached his 50, and Chapple dropped the same player with a sharp caught and bowled opportunity later in the game. Mark Chilton had two chances to run out Hick, but failed to hit the stumps on either occasion. Chris Schofield was probably Lancashire's best fielder throughout Worcestershire's innings. He held a smart catch to dismiss Singh, and prevent numerous runs fielding at point

 

Highlights of the Day

• Mal Loye's innings
• Chris Schofield dispatching Gareth Batty for four boundaries in five balls in the 37th over - he turned the game back in favour of Lancashire and demonstrated the teams self belief and strong batting line-up.
• Mal Loye's sweep/slog for 6 from a free-hit

 

Lowlights of the Day

• Not running a bye to the wicket keeper on the 5th ball of the last over - John Wood stood still instead of charging down the wicket to the bowlers end. Surely, Wood realized that without a run from the 5th ball, Lancashire could not win the game.
• Not managing to score one run from the final over - no one seemed capable of pushing a single to allow Mal Loye to have the strike
• Failing to make the final for the 5th consecutive time

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Some of umpire Holder's leg before wicket decisions appeared to be debatable. Chilton appeared to be marginally outside the line of off stump, and Flintoff was an enormous distance down the track with wicket keeper Rhodes heading down leg side

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Lancashire won the toss and toss and elected to field
• Solanki caught Hegg bowled Anderson 2 - 4 for 1 in the 2nd over - Singh 1*
• 50 for 1 in the 13th over - Singh 22* Hick 24*
• 50 partnership - 55 for 1 in the 14th over - Singh 25* Hick 26*
• 50 Hick from 57 balls (9 x 4) - 89 for 1 in the 2nd over - Singh 33*
• 101 for 1 in the 23rd over - Hick 55* Singh 40*
• 100 partnership - 106 for 1 in the 23rd over - Hick 59* Singh 41*
• 50 Singh from 80 balls (6 x 4) - 122 for 1 in the 27th over - Hick 62*
• 152 for 1 in the 33rd over - Hick 79* Singh 62*
• 150 partnership - 155 for 1 in the 33rd over - Hick 81* Singh 63*
• Singh caught Schofield bowled Flintoff 63 - 159 for 2 in the 34th over - Hick 81*
• Hick caught Hooper bowled Chapple 97 - 191 for 3 in the 41st over - Smith 16*
• 200 for 3 in the 42nd over - Smith 23* Hall 1*
• Hall caught Chilton bowled Anderson 26 - 237 for 4 in the 48th over - Smith 34*
• Smith caught Anderson bowled Flintoff 36 - 240 for 5 in the 49th over - Leatherdale 1*
• 250 for 5 in the 50th over - Batty 5* Leatherdale 4*
• 254 for 5 in the 50th over - Batty 9* Leatherdale 4*

• Chilton lbw bowled Hayward 6 - 15 for 1 in the 6th over - Loye 8*
• 51 for 1 in the 10th over - Loye 31* Law 8*
• 50 partnership - 66 for 1 in the 13th over - Loye 42* Law 8*
• Law caught Hall bowled Mason 8 - 70 for 2 in the 14th over - Loye 46*
• 50 Loye from 57 balls (5 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 74 for 2 in the 15th over - Hooper 0*
• Hooper lbw bowled Hall 1 - 80 for 3 in the 19th over - Loye 56*
• Mason second warning for running on wicket in 26th over - 97 for 3
• 100 for 3 in the 27th over - Loye 65* Flintoff 7*
• Flintoff lbw bowled Hall 15 - 108 for 4 in the 30th over - Loye 66*
• 153 for 4 in the 37th over - Loye 92* Schofield 16*
• 50 partnership - 161 for 4 in the 37th over - Loye 92* Schofield 24*
• Schofield caught Haywood bowled Leatherdale 32 - 171 for 5 in the 38th over - Loye 92*
• 200 for 5 in the 43rd over - Loye 99* Chapple 17*
• 100 Loye from 137 balls (9 x 4 & 4 x 6) - 201 for 5 in the 43rd over - Chapple 17*
• 50 partnership - 222 for 5 in the 46th over - Loye 112* Chapple 24*
• Chapple bowled Ali 44 - 247 for 6 in the 49th over - Loye 116*
• Hegg bowled Hall 1 - 248 for 7 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
• Martin bowled Hall 0 - 248 for 8 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
• Wood run out (Rhodes) 0 - 248 for 9 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
• 248 for 9 from 50 overs - Loye 116* Anderson 0*
• Worcestershire win by 6 runs

 

Lancashire Man of the Match

Mal Loye for his superb innings of 116

 

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