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

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Worcestershire

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Summary for Day 3

Lancashire cruised to victory over Worcestershire by 219 runs inside three days play thanks to outstanding bowling performances by James Anderson and Gary Keedy. In total the pair captured 19 of the 20 wickets to fall in the match. Worcestershire's batsmen were completely unavailable to handle Anderson's pace and Keedy's guile. It made for delightful viewing to see a genuinely fast bowler working in tandem with a wily spinner. Lancashire collected 17 points to move to the top of the table.

 

Ironically, night watchman Keedy was the first player to be dismissed during the day. A very thin tickle to the keeper (209-4). Sutcliffe was tempted by a wide ball from Hall 7 overs later and was also caught behind. He made 95 excellent runs in extremely difficult batting conditions (225-5). Glen Chapple, who was forced to bat at number 5 due to Mal Loye's injury, blasted a quick-fire 38 before receiving an unplayable lifting ball from Matt Mason. Rhodes gratefully snapped up his third catch of the session (264-6). One already sensed that Lancashire might have sufficient runs on the board to attain victory.

 

Dominic Cork suffered another failure with the bat. This time he only managed one run before being clean bowled by Andy Bichel (265-7). Cork's role in this match was in direct contrast to that at Lords where he captured 7 wickets. On this occasion he only bowled 4 overs in the entire match. Mal Loye was Lancashire's eighth man out for 20. His innings was highly commendable considering the pain which he was suffering. Mark Chilton acted as his runner for the second time. Peter Martin fell leg before wicket 2 overs before lunch for just 2, leaving Lancashire on 298-9.

 

Lancashire set Worcestershire a winning target of 347 from a minimum 164 overs when Anderson edged to Hick at second slip shortly after the resumption. Hegg remained unbeaten on 21. The visitors started their innings well, reaching 22 without loss from just 7 overs. James Anderson switched ends to bowl from the Stretford end for the first time in the match. The impact was immediate and devastating. Peters was smartly caught by Chilton in the gully (22-1). Hick, who smashed Anderson's first ball for four, was completely outwitted by the speed of the following three deliveries. It was no surprise when he edged to Hooper at second slip (26-2). Four overs later, Smith offered a simple catch to Keedy at cover point (40-3).

 

With the score on 61, Kadeer Ali found an outside edge to Cork standing at first slip (61-4). Andrew Hall was beaten by a delivery from Chapple which nipped back to leave him pinned in front of his stumps (72-5). The writing was well and truly on the wall. Only Stephen Moore showed any resistance. However, on 45, Moore danced down the wicket to Keedy and was easily stumped by Hegg (90-6). Worse followed in the final over before tea. Andy Bichel's thin edge to Hegg from Keedy's delivery left Worcester on 112 for 7.

 

Lancashire captured the last three wickets within the space of seven overs after the break. Keedy accounted for Rhodes and Mason, while Anderson dismissed Nadeem Malik. Gareth Batty remained unbeaten on 31. Lancashire's margin of victory (219 runs) was truly amazing considering the home sides' score of just 187 in their first innings. Lancashire moved 13 points clear at the top of the table - a great feeling!

 

Keedy finished with 9 for 82 and Anderson finished 10 for 81

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Keedy caught Rhodes bowled Batty 1 - 209 for 4 in the 80th over - Sutcliffe 87* - Lead by 250
• Sutcliffe caught Rhodes bowled Hall 95 - 225 for 5 in the 87th over - Chapple 8* - Lead by 266
• New ball taken after 90 overs
• 253 for 5 in the 94th over - Chapple 28* Loye 8* - Lead by 294
• 259 for 5 in the 96th over - Chapple 34* Loye 8* - Lead by 300
• Chapple caught Rhodes bowled Mason 38 - 264 for 6 in the 99th over - Loye 8*
• Cork bowled Bichel 1 - 265 for 7 in the 100th over - Loye 8* - Lead by 306
• Loye caught Smith bowled Batty 20 - 288 for 8 in the 106th over - Hegg 9* - Lead by 336
• Martin lbw bowled Malik 2 - 295 for 9 in the 107th over - Hegg 14* - Lead by 336
• Lunch - 298 for 9 from 109 overs - Hegg 17* Anderson 0* - Lead by 339 - Over rate +5
• 301 for 9 in the 110th over - Hegg 17* Anderson 3* - Lead by 342
• Anderson caught Hick bowled Bichel 3 - 305 all out - Hegg 21* - Lead by 346

• Worcestershire required 347 runs to win from a minimum 164 overs
• Peters caught Chilton bowled Anderson 10 (Gully) - 22 for 1 in the 7th over - Moore 12* - Require 325 to win - 2.38pm
• Hick caught Hooper bowled Anderson 4 (2nd slip) - 26 for 2 in the 9th over - Moore 12* - Require 321 to win - 2.45pm
• Smith caught Keedy bowled Anderson 10 - 40 for 3 in the 13th over - Moore 16* - Require 307 to win - 2.59pm
• 51 for 3 in the 15th over - Moore 25* Ali 2*
• Kadeer Ali caught Cork bowled Keedy 6 - 61 for 4 in the 24th over - Moore 31* - Require 286 to win - 3.34pm
• Hall lbw bowled Chapple 7 - 72 for 5 in the 27th over - Moore 31* - Require 275 to win - 3.48pm
• Moore stumped Hegg bowled Keedy 45 - 90 for 6 in the 32nd over - Batty 8* - Require 257 to win - 4.04pm
• 101 for 6 in the 34th over - Batty 19* Bichel 0*
• Bichel caught Hegg bowled Keedy 4 - 112 for 7 in the 36th over - Batty 26* - Tea taken at fall of wicket - Require 235 to win - 4.17pm
• Kyle Hogg asked by umpires to leave the field - Lancashire forced to field with 10 men for 2 overs until Martin returned to the field
• Rhodes lbw bowled Keedy 6 - 120 for 8 in the 40th over - Batty 28* - Require 227 to win - 4.51pm
• Mason caught Law bowled Keedy 4 - 126 for 9 in the 42nd over - Batty 30* - Require 221 to win - 4.58pm
• Malik lbw bowled Anderson 0 - 127 all out in the 43rd over - Batty 31* - 5pm
• Lancashire won by 219 runs - Lancashire 17 points, Worcestershire 3 points

 

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