Match report: Lancs v Kent in totesport League 2004 by Neil Adams

---

Scorecard:

Lancashire v Kent

---

Summary

Forget the "Atkins" diet, ignore the jar of "Slim-fast", and cancel your subscription fee to the local gym. Instead, try watching Lancashire play one day cricket - you are guaranteed to lose pounds and end up with no finger nails if this encounter with Kent Spitfires is anything to go by.

 

On a beautiful spring day, Kent won the toss and elected to bat. The pitch appeared to be full of runs, and with 37 on the board after 10 overs, the foundation had been laid for a large total. Unfortunately for the visitors, there were far too many attempts to slog the ball rather than play safe shots on the green baize. The outfield was lightning fast despite being the envy of every gardener in its appearance. In the 11th over, Key attempted a foolish second run to Kyle Hogg at long leg. Key gambled that the throw would not be on target. His full length dive into the crease did not spare his blushes - Hogg's throw was pin-point accurate.

 

In the following over, Hogg turned wicket taker with just his second delivery of the match (His first was hammered for four!). Symonds nicked the ball to keeper Hegg and Kent found themselves on 48 for 2. Every time that Kent appeared to be gaining the upper hand, Lancashire's players pulled on their reins to keep them in check. Hooper held an easy catch at second slip standing at a wide third slip position (Good captaincy) - 78 for 3. Smith played on 4 overs later to leave Kent on 91 for 4 - a fast scoring rate but too many wickets had been lost. David Fulton tickled the ball down leg side and was caught for 4 (97-5), and Mahmood comprehensively removed Jones's off stump before he could trouble the scorers (106-6).

 

In a similar manner to that of the previous match against Northamptonshire, the hosts contrived to allow their opponents to reestablish their innings rather than dismissing them for a low total. Tredwell and Ferley added 22 for the 7th wicket, and then Ferley and Saggers added 54 for the 8th wicket. Ferley was eventually bowled by Chapple for 42 in the 41st over and Saggers followed one over later for 16 (182 for 9). More drama followed in the 44th over. Sami hit a boundary four and then grabbed a quick single offering Alamgir Sheriyar the strike. Hooper's fourth and fifth deliveries were blasted for 6, and the 200 was posted. On the last ball of the over, Sheriyar attempted a risky second run after slogging the ball to Mark Chilton on the deep mid-wicket boundary. As the throw came in, Sheriyar appeared to have passed the batting crease, but the umpires finger pointed skywards. Sheriyar stood motionless for several seconds in utter disbelief - perhaps next time he will remember to ground his bat correctly. Kent's final total of 203 was well below their initial expectation, and their failure to negotiate the final over was destined to come back and haunt them later in the day.

 

Set 204 to win at just 4.53 runs per over, Lancashire's openers paced themselves at an ideal rate courtesy of sound defence and occasional aggressive stroke play. With 93 runs on the board without loss in the 20th over, and the sun shining down, there was absolutely no hint of what was about to follow - surely Lancashire could not fail to score the outstanding 111 runs from 25 overs with all 10 wickets in hand?

 

Mal Loye attempted another big hit from Symonds in the bowlers fifth over. Loye had already hit Symonds for 6 in his second over. This time the ball fell short, allowing Ed Smith a comfortable catch. Stuart Law fended the ball to wicketkeeper Jones the very next delivery (93-2) and made his way back up the pavilion steps with the applause still ringing in the air from his entrance, one minute earlier.

 

As Lancashire's run scoring eased, Sutcliffe became agitated at the crease. He regularly danced down the wicket to the spin of Tredwell, but found himself totally unable to score. It was no surprise when Sutcliffe was bowled round his legs in the 26th over by the Kent spinner (117-3). For the first time this season, Lancashire's middle order batsmen failed to fire. A procession of players disappeared up the pavilion steps with just a handful of runs to their name. Carl Hooper is a shadow of the player he was last season in the one day arena. His previously dominating demeanour has temporarily given way to procrastination and too much "Pad-play".

 

With 5 overs remaining, Lancashire required 30 runs to win with 4 wickets in hand. The large crowd dared not leave early and screamed out loud for every single scored. Cork attempted a pull shot to the leg side in the 41st over, but found Tredwell with incredible accuracy (177-7). That was the cue for Kyle Hogg to show enormous maturity and prove that he is in the side not merely for his bowling. His swift running between the wickets with Hegg was a joy to watch, but Lancashire desperately needed boundaries to elevate the building pressure. In the 43rd over, Hogg guided Sami's second ball just out of reach of Jones (Keeper) for 4. He followed this up with a tremendous pull stroke for 4 through mid wicket. Sami received a standing ovation from the home crowd as he returned to the boundary edge - thanking for conceding 12 runs!

 

With 8 runs required from 2 overs, Hogg and Hegg accumulated useful quick singles. David Fulton brought his field in close during the last over, but was immediately thwarted as Sami bowled a wide ball to leave the scores level. Hegg cleverly guided the second official ball of the over away for four through the gully region to leave Lancashire with maximum points from their first two games - time for a bag of chips to regain some of the lost weight!

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Kent won the toss and elected to bat
• Key run out 29 (Hogg/Hegg) - 38 for 1 in the 11th over - Smith 6*
• Symonds caught Hegg bowled Hogg (Attempting 2nd run to long leg) 9 - 48 for 2 in the 12th over - Smith 6*
• 50 for 2 in the 12th over - Smith 6* Walker 1*
• Walker caught Hooper bowled Mahmood (Wide 2nd slip) 11 - 78 for 3 in the 15th over - Smith 24*
• Smith bowled Mahmood 36 (Played-on) - 91 for 4 in the 19th over - Fulton 1*
• Fulton caught Hegg bowled Chapple 4 (Leg side catch) - 97 for 5 in the 21st over - Jones 0*
• 101 for 5 in the 23rd over - Jones 0* Tredwell 4*
• Jones bowled Mahmood (Off stump) 0 - 106 for 6 in the 25th over - Tredwell 9*
• Tredwell lbw bowled Hogg 23 - 128 for 7 in the 29th over - Ferley 7*
• 150 for 7 in the 34th over - Ferley 18* Saggers 9*
• Missed run out chance by Cork - 150 for 7 in the 34th over - Ferley 18* backing up too far
• 50 partnership - 178 for 7 in the 40th over - Ferley 41* Saggers 13*
• Ferley bowled Chapple 42 (Off stump) - 182 for 8 in the 41st over - Saggers 16*
• Saggers lbw bowled Hooper 16 - 182 for 9 in the 42nd over - Sami 0*
• 202 for 9 in the 44th over (2 consecutive 6's from Sheriyar) - Sami 7* Sheriyar 13*
• Sheriyar run out 14 (Chilton/Hegg) (Attempting 2nd run to deep mid-wicket boundary) - 203
• all out from 44 overs - Sami 7* - Sheriyar was not happy with decision

• Lancashire rate required 4.53
• 51 for 0 in the 12th over - Loye 20* Sutcliffe 24*
• Loye caught Smith bowled Symonds 48 - 93 for 1 in the 20th over - Sutcliffe 37*
• Law caught Jones bowled Symonds 0 (First ball) - 93 for 2 in the 20th over - Sutcliffe 37*
• 100 for 2 in the 23rd over - Sutcliffe 40* Hooper 2*
• Sutcliffe bowled Tredwell 44 (Leg stump behind legs) - 117 for 3 in the 26th over - Hooper 11*
• Hooper lbw bowled Ferley 18 (Not happy with decision) - 129 for 4 in the 30th over - Chilton 5*
• Chapple caught Sami bowled Tredwell 6 - 140 for 5 in the 33rd over - Chilton 5*
• Chilton caught Smith bowled Ferley 9 - 142 for 6 in the 34th over - Cork 1*
• 150 for 6 in the 36th over - Cork 4* Hogg 5*
• Cork caught Tredwell bowled Saggers 15 - 177 for 7 in the 41st over - Hogg 18*
• 200 for 7 in the 44th over - Hogg 37* Hegg 4*
• 207 for 7 from 44.2 overs - Hogg 37* Hegg 10*
• Lancashire 4 points beat Kent 0 points by 3 wickets
• Man of the match - Kyle Hogg - 37 runs, 2 wickets and 1 run out!

 

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