Match report day 3: Leics v Lancs in Championship 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Leicestershire v Lancashire

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Summary for Day 3

A combination of rain and resilient batting led to a frustrating day for Lancashire, and prevented the visitors from tightening their strong-hold on the match. A typical of example of this bad luck came when Stuart Law lost his wicket to the final ball before steady rain fell at 12.30pm. Lancashire were simply unable to gain momentum, or establish an ideal of 300 by lunch. Although the rain breaks in this match have all been brief (One each day totaling 57 overs - 17, 16 and 24) they will undoubtedly prove crucial. In addition to the poor weather which seems to be following Lancashire on the circuit this year, Leicestershire's batsmen proved stubborn to dismiss in the final extended session of the day (43 overs). John Maunders 56 and Darren Stevens 50 batted well. The ball did not appear to be moving around very much, and only a couple of careless strokes enabled Lancashire to make a breakthrough. The fourth morning will be vital if Lancashire are to go on and win the match. They need a couple of early wickets and a bit of luck!

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Gary Keedy finished the day with 2 wickets for 43 runs from 13 overs. He is the most likely player to transform the current match position into a victory. Unfortunately, the other bowlers were unable to capture any wickets. Stevens played a rash shot and was caught at long-off and Maddy swept across a straight delivery and was adjudged leg before wicket

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Most Lancashire batsmen only made brief visits to the crease. Hooper added 29 to his overnight score, which secured his second hundred for Lancashire from 156 balls (6 x 4, 1 x 5 & 4 x 6). Law added 36 runs to his overnight score, and narrowly failed to become the first Lancastrian player to score "back-to-back" double centuries by just 14 runs. This was the first time that Law had been dismissed for 424 runs! The lower order added valuable quick runs at the end of the innings

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Lancashire worked hard in the field. They chased the ball to the ropes on several occasions to turn potential boundaries into only a "3". Alec Swann's catch to dismiss Stevens at long-off was very cool indeed under such pressure. It followed a huge six by Stevens to reach his fifty. He appeared to be copying Carl Hooper but lacked the finesse and power!

 

Highlights of the Day

• Establishing a new record 5th wicket partnership against Leicester - See key notes of the day detailed below
• Carl Hooper's second hundred for the club (3) The fact that everyone contributed with the bat

 

Lowlights of the Day

• Narrowly failing to post the 250 partnership between Hooper and Law
• Unexpected rain delaying the game for 90 minutes (Lost 24 overs). Added to the time lost on the first two days, 57 overs have been wasted again - could be crucial in the long run
• Only capturing 2 second innings wickets of Leicestershire by close of play despite bowling 43 overs - the lead cut from 220 to just 64
• Law not creating a new batting record for Lancashire as detailed above
• Not utilising Kyle Hogg for any of the 43 overs during Leicestershire's 2nd innings

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Not necessarily contentious, but strange why John Wood batted at number 10 in front of Peter Martin

 

Key Notes of the Day

• 200 partnership - 340 for 4 in the 100th over - Law 150* Hooper 95*
• 100 Hooper from 156 balls (6 x 4 & 4 x 6) - 349 for 4 in the 102nd over - Law 150*
• 350 for 4 in the 102nd over - Law 150* Hooper 104*
• 357 for 4 - highest 5th wicket partnership at Leicester for Lancashire since
• Clive Lloyd & Harry Pilling in 1974 beating 219
• 167 for Law - 403 not out since last dismissal - 375 for 4 in the 105th over - Hooper 112*
• Hooper caught Stevens bowled DeFreitas 117 - 384 for 5 in the 107th over - Law 171* - partnership of 247
• 400 for 5 in the 114th over - Law 179* Chapple 8*
• Chapple caught Nixon bowled DeFreitas 8 - 400 for 6 in the 115th over - Law 179*
• 12.25pm - offer for bad light turned down by Hegg and Law - 409 for 6
• Law lbw bowled Maddy 186 - 413 for 7 in the 119th over - Hegg 5*
• 12.30pm rain interruption as Law leaves the field and Hogg enters - Lead by 154
• Play restarts at 2.40pm - 24 overs lost
• Hogg caught Maddy bowled DeFreitas 12 - 435 for 8 in the 125th over - Hegg 15*
• Wood 2 dropped by Amin at Mid-on - 440 for 8 in the 126th over - Hegg 15*
• Hegg 27 dropped by Maddy at 1st slip - 449 for 8 in the 130th over - Wood 3*
• 450 for 8 in the 130th over - Hegg 27* Wood 3*
• 459 for 8 in the 133rd over - Hegg 27* Wood 8* - Lead by 200 3.35pm
• Hegg caught DeFreitas bowled Masters 27 - 459 for 9 in the 134th over - Wood 8*
• Martin caught Ward bowled Masters 19 - 479 all out in the 136th over - Wood 8* -
• Tea taken at 3.45pm - Lead by 220 - 43 overs remaining

• 50 for 0 in the 12th over - Stevens 30 Maunders 19 + 50 partnership
• 50 Stevens from 45 balls (6 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 76 for 0 in the 18th over - Maunders 25*
• Stevens caught Swann bowled Keedy 50 (Next ball) - 76 for 1 in the 18th over
• 102 for 1 in the 27th over - Maunders 39* Maddy 10*
• Maddy lbw bowled Keedy 14 - 106 for 3 in the 28th over - Maunders 39*
• 50 Maunders from 120 balls (5 x 4) - 137 for 2 in the 38th over - Hodge 19*
• 150 for 2 in the 41st over - Maunders 55* Hodge 31*
• 50 partnership - 156 for 3 in the 43rd over - Maunders 56* Hodge 33*
• Close of play - 156 for 2 from 43 overs - Maunders 56* Hodge 33*
• Lancashire lead by 64 runs
• Leicestershire 4 points, Lancashire 8 points

 

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