Match report day 3: Sussex v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

---

Scorecard:

Sussex v Lancashire

---

Summary for Day 3

Before the match started, Sussex captain Chris Adams accused Lancashire of being a group of "Whingers". By 2.45pm on the third day, the visitors left the Sussex captain "Eating" his words, as Adams was left bemoaning his poor decision to bat first and regretting two particularly poor strokes which left him with just 3 runs to his name. In truth, Lancashire did not require any additional motivation to beat Sussex. The team were seeking revenge for last season's defeat at Hove and for finishing second in the league table - Adams merely lit the fuse paper without realizing it was soaked with petrol.

 

Initially, Sussex progressed slowly toward the deficit figure of 140 without any hint of what was to follow (64 for 0). Ward finally edged one of Martin's deliveries to Hegg - he had previously played and missed twice. Goodwin and Montgomerie added 26 runs in 7 overs, and with the score on 90 for 1, the game seemed destined to head into a fourth day. Suddenly the flood gates opened without any warning. Montgomerie shouldered arms to a ball which nipped back to uproot his off stump - Mahmood was overjoyed. Adams was caught by Loye in the gully 7 balls later and Mahmood found himself on a hat-trick. Goodwin and Martin-Jenkins were both pinned in front of the wicket by Cork and Sussex found themselves on 96 for 5 - game over and the beach beckoned.

 

Ambrose and Prior added 57 runs in just 10 overs with a number of boundary scoring strokes. Lancashire captain, Warren Hegg, considered using Gary Keedy from the sea end but changed his mind at the last minute. He elected to keep Dominic Cork on. Ambrose played around a straight ball to became Cork's third leg before victim of the session. At lunch, Sussex were 14 runs in front, but with only 4 wickets in hand.

 

In the second over after the resumption, Prior edged a straight forward catch to Hegg (157 for 7). Soon afterwards, Sussex's nightmare was completed when Kevin Innes elected not to turn for an easy second run. Mushtaq Ahmed found himself stood next to Innes and totally unable to beat the relay throw from Chilton. Lewry and Innes all but threw their wickets away - the white flag was well and truly blowing in the light sea breeze.

 

Set just 24 to win, Lancashire eased to a 10 wicket victory inside 9 overs. Sussex narrowly avoided any points deduction by running back to the bowling mark and getting the ball back to the bowler as quickly as possible with a strategically placed field. Unfortunately, Lancashire were deducted 2 points for slow bowling - strange really when you consider the game finished with over 4 sessions left!

 

Lancashire man of the match - Stuart Law - His extraordinary innings of 171 not out was put into even sharper context by Sussex's woeful batting display.

Key Notes of the Day

• Ward caught Hegg bowled Martin 37 - 64 for 1 in the 27th over - Montgomerie 22* - Trail by 76 - 11.34am
• Montgomerie bowled Mahmood 27 (Shouldered arms - lost off stump) - 90 for 2 in the 34th over - Goodwin 14 - Trail by 50 - 12.10pm
• Adams caught Loye bowled Mahmood 0 (Leading edge to gully playing shot to leg side - Mahmood on hat-trick) - 90 for 3 in the 36th over - Goodwin 14* - Trail by 50 - 12.15pm
• Goodwin lbw bowled Cork 14 - 96 for 4 in the 37th over - Ambrose 6* - Trail by 44 - 12.20pm
• Martin-Jenkins lbw bowled Cork 0 - 96 for 5 in the 37th over - Ambrose 6* - Trail by 44 - 12.24pm
• 100 for 5 in the 39th over - Ambrose 8* Prior 1* - Trail by 40
• 140 for 5 in the 45th over - Ambrose 28* Prior 20* - scores level - 1pm
• 50 partnership - 146 for 5 in the 46th over - Ambrose 28* Prior 26*
• 150 for 5 in the 47th over - Ambrose 28* Prior 30*
• Ambrose lbw b Cork 28 - 153 for 6 in the 47th over - Prior 31* - Lead by 13 - 1.10pm
• Lunch - 154 for 6 from 48 overs - Prior 32* Innes 0* - Lead by 14 - Lancashire over rate minus 4
• Prior caught Hegg bowled Chapple 33 - 157 for 7 in the 50th over - Innes 0* - Lead by 17 - 14.02pm - Over rate minus 5
• Mushtaq run out 2 (Chilton/Chapple) - 162 for 8 in the 52nd over - Innes 3* - Lead by 22 - 14.10pm
• Lewry bowled Cork 0 - 162 for 9 in the 53rd over - Innes 3* - Lead by 22 - 14.13pm - over rate minus 4
• Innes caught Chilton bowled Cork 3 - 163 all out - Akram 1* - Lead by 23 - Over rate minus 4 - 14.17pm
• Lancashire set a target of 24 runs to win
• Cork - 8 wickets in the match

• 24 for 0 in the 9th over - Chilton 10* Sutcliffe 14* - 14.45pm
• Lancashire won by 10 wickets
• Sussex 3 points, Lancashire 18 points (Deducted 2 points for slow over rate)

 

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