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

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Scorecard:

Kent v Lancashire

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Summary for Day 3

 

Trailing by 369 runs and with 2 complete days left, Lancashire needed to dig deep and bat with enormous application if they were to avoid defeat. In just the second over of the day, Hegg (24) lobbed the ball over Symonds at square leg. Quite incredibly, the Kent overseas star raced back and dived full length to hold the catch as the ball came over his right shoulder. Hegg stood in his crease totally bemused (256-7). Kyle Hogg (4) offered a simple slip catch to Walker in Sami's next over (267-8) and the follow-on beckoned.

 

Steven Crook only managed to add 12 runs to his overnight score of 25 before Sheriyar trapped him in front of his stumps for 37 (267-9). Little did Crook know that he would return to the crease later in the day and strike an exhilarating half century. Dominic Cork and Gary Keedy combined to add 40 runs for the last wicket - securing the third batting point in doing so. Cork hit 2 sixes and 5 fours in his unbeaten knock of 35. Keedy (4) eventually edged Stiff to Walker at second slip on the last ball of the 67th over (307 all out). Kent enforced the follow-on without any delay. Sadly, extras ended up producing the highest score of the innings - 51.

 

Lancashire desperately needed their top order to bat to their full potential if the match was to be saved. Iain Sutcliffe (10) could class himself unlucky to be dismissed leg before wicket in the 8th over. The ball kept slightly low (30-1). However, Mark Chilton's waft outside off stump in the penultimate over before lunch defied belief, not only for its recklessness, but for its poor timing. David Fulton snapped up the chance at first slip from Min Patel's only over of the session (53-2 at lunch).

 

Mal Loye and Stuart Law added 76 runs for the third wicket in 23 overs. The faster bowlers were becoming less effective, and Fulton elected to bowl spin from both ends. This entailed Andrew Symonds transforming from fast bowler to spinner. Rather than maintaining their discipline at the crease and batting time in the middle, Loye 34 and Law 48 fell in successive overs to poor strokes. Loye who had been previously given out in the 23rd over caught at the wicket, but reprieved when O'Brien admitted the ball did not carry, failed to use his second chance. Law (48) tried to cut a ball from Patel through the offside but feathered it through to Fulton at slip (129-4).

 

If ever Lancashire needed Alec Swann to come good and prove his worth in the team it was now. Unfortunately, he survived only 26 balls before returning to the home dressing room, leaving his side on 135 for 5. At this stage there appeared to be little chance of the match entering a fourth day. Steven Crook and Glen Chapple found themselves together at the crease without a run to their names. Thirteen overs later at tea, the score had moved along to 175 for 5 with Chapple and Crook unbeaten on 19 and 17 respectively.

 

The final session of the third day offered Lancashire's travelling masses a brief rest bite from the below par performances of the previous eight sessions. Chapple and Crook batted with enormous common sense, showing the upper order how to negotiate time at the wicket. The pair added 153 runs for the sixth wicket rescuing Lancashire's pride. Symonds returned at the Railway end and finally broke the partnership courtesy of a superb caught and bowled. Crook returned to the pavilion with 68 runs to his name from 101 balls. His tally of 105 runs in the match of stark embarrassment to his senior colleagues (288-6). Chapple and Hegg held out for the final 15 overs of the day to leave Lancashire just 8 runs ahead. Chapple was unbeaten on 77 from 166 balls and Hegg had reached 20.

 

Fingers crossed, Lancashire might be able to pull off a dramatic draw if they can handle the new ball on the final morning and bat through to tea - who knows?

 

Key Notes of the Day

• 50 partnership - 251 for 6 in the 54th over - Hegg 24* Crook 29*
• Hegg caught Symonds bowled Sami 24 - 256 for 7 in the 54th over - Crook 32*
• Hogg caught Walker bowled Sami 4 (2nd slip) - 267 for 8 in the 56th over - Crook 37*
• Crook lbw bowled Sheriyar 37 - 267 for 9 in the 57th over - Cork 0*
• 302 for 9 in the 65th over - Cork 30* Keedy 4*
• Keedy caught Walker bowled Stiff 4 (2nd slip) - 307 all out from 67 overs - Cork 35*
• Lancashire asked to follow-on - Trail by 308 runs
• Sutcliffe lbw bowled Sheriyar 10 - 30 for 1 in the 8th over - Chilton 16*
• 52 for 1 in the 12th over - Chilton 25* Loye 11*
• Chilton caught Fulton bowled Patel 25 (1st slip) - 53 for 2 in the 14th over - Loye 12*
• Lunch - 53 for 2 from 15 overs - Loye 12* Law 0*
• Loye (14) given out by umpire and starts walk back to the pavilion - Alec Swann makes his way to the wicket - Umpire calls Loye back - 77 for 2 in the 23rd over - Law 20*
• 102 for 2 in the 29th over - Loye 20* Law 35*
• 50 partnership - 104 for 2 in the 30th over - Loye 20* Law 37*
• Loye lbw bowled Symonds 34 - 129 for 3 in the 37th over - Law 48*
• Law caught Fulton bowled Patel 48 (1st slip) - 129 for 4 in the 38th over - Swann 0*
• Swann bowled Symonds 6 - 135 for 5 in the 45th over - Chapple 0*
• 150 for 5 in the 51st over - Chapple 6* Crook 5*
• Tea - 175 for 5 from 58 overs - Chapple 19* Crook 17*
• Chapple 25 dropped by Walker at silly point - 182 for 5 in 61st over - Crook 18*
• 50 partnership - 187 for 5 in the 61st over - Chapple 26* Crook 22*
• 203 for 5 in the 62nd over - Chapple 42* Crook 22*
• 50 Chapple from 104 balls ( 10 x 4) - 233 for 5 in the 72nd over - Crook 40*
• 100 partnership - 238 for 5 in the 72nd over - Chapple 54* Crook 44*
• 250 for 5 in the 73rd over - Chapple 56* Crook 49*
• 50 Crook from 81 balls (8 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 256 for 5 in the 73rd over - Chapple 56*
• 150 partnership - 286 for 5 in the 78th over - Chapple 69* Crook 66*
• Crook caught & bowled Symonds 68 - 288 for 6 in the 79th over - Chapple 69*
• 300 for 6 in the 87th over - Chapple 75* Hegg 6*
• 308 for 6 in the 89th over - Scores level - Chapple 75* Hegg 12* - 6.16pm
• Close - 316 for 6 from 94 overs - Chapple 77* Hegg 20* - Lead by 8 runs
• Kent 8 points, Lancashire 4 points

 

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