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

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Hampshire

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Summary

Two of the three unbeaten teams in the country clashed in this division one NCL encounter at Old Trafford. Barring a tie, only one of these teams could maintain their record. This honour fell to the home side, who completely destroyed their opponents with in excess of thirteen overs to spare.

 

Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat. The short boundary to the Washbrook stand and a superb looking pitch suggested that a score between 220 and 240 would be competitive. However, the visitors struggled against an excellent opening spell by Chapple and Cork, reaching 19 for 1 by the end of the 9th over. Hooper's catch at second slip to dismiss Kenway was sublime. Cork bowled nine overs unchanged from the Brian Statham end. Cork's second success came in his eighth over - an edge through to wicket keeper Hegg by Watson (50-2). Pothas and Clarke added 57 runs in the next twelve overs to leave Hampshire on 107 for 2.

 

The previously untroubled Pothas (45) emulated Watson's dismissal in the 28th over with Kyle Hogg the bowler on this occasion (107-3). Hampshire captain, Will Kendall joined Clarke at the crease. The partnership added steady runs without striking any boundaries as Hampshire went nearly 9 overs without reaching the ropes. Shortly after attaining his fifty, Clarke offered a simple catch at Carl Hooper at mid-wicket (150-4). What followed in the next two overs transformed the course of the game. Firstly, Kendall (18) slogged recklessly to Crook at deep mid-wicket in Hooper's fifth over (152-5), then Sajid Mahmood struck with the first ball of the 39th over, dismissing Prittipaul for a first ball duck leg before wicket (152-6). Three balls later, Udal hooked without any due care to Alec Swann on the deep square leg boundary (152-7). Four Hampshire wickets fell within the space of twelve balls, with Mahmood collecting three scalps without conceding a single run.

 

Hampshire's lower order negotiated the last six overs - a poor consolation prize considering the platform set by Pothas and Clarke. Mascarenhas blasted seventeen runs from the final over of the innings demonstrating what could and should have been achieved. Hampshire's final score of 189 was substantially below par.

 

Lancashire surprised everybody in the ground by opening the innings with Steven Crook. Runs flowed freely in the opening overs with Crook hitting three boundaries to Iain Sutcliffe's one (21-2 from 2 overs). Lancashire's more experienced opener was bowled by Alan Mullally in the third over for 10 (23-1). Stuart Law immediately thrilled the packed crowd by striking two boundaries. Crook rotated the strike with Law as Hampshire's frustration grew. Eventually, in the 11th over, Crook's innings ended (20 runs from 20 balls) with a straight forward catch to Kendall at cover point (65-2).

 

Although the run rate had dropped below 3.62 over, Lancashire's positive and powerful approach never relented. Law hit seven exquisite boundaries in his 51 ball half century as the result became a mere formality. Unlike the approach shown at Northampton in the opening match of the season, Lancashire took the opportunity to significantly improve their net run rate by rarely scoring less than five runs per over. Law savagely scored seventeen runs from Udal's 4th over, including two maximum hits. Inevitably, Law was caught by Taylor attempting another onslaught on Clarke. He left to a standing ovation (83 from 74 balls - 163-3). The partnership with Chilton reaped 98 runs.

 

With Hampshire's attack resembling that of an injured animal, Hooper and Chilton turned veterinary surgeons to extinguish the final signs of life. Chilton finished 58 not out from 70 balls, while Hooper scored a run-a-ball 17. Bring on the Dragons next week!

 

Crook 20 runs, 1 catch & 1 for 27, Law 83 runs from 74 balls

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat
• Kenway caught Hooper bowled Cork 3 (Low at 2nd slip) - 14 for 1 in the 6th over - Pothas 9*
• Watson 2 missed chance by Cork running in from long leg - 17 for 1 in the 8th - Pothas 10*
• 50 for 1 in the 16th over - Pothas 18* Watson 23*
• Watson caught Hegg bowled Cork 23 - 50 for 2 in the 16th over - Pothas 18*
• 103 for 2 in the 27th over - Pothas 43* Clarke 28* + 50 partnership
• Pothas caught Hegg bowled Hogg 45 - 107 for 3 in the 28th over - Clarke 30*
• Clarke 50 from 51 balls (3 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 146 for 3 in the 36th over - Kendall 14*
• 150 for 3 in the 37th over - Clarke 54* Kendall 17*
• Clarke caught Hooper bowled Mahmood 54 - 150 for 4 in the 37th over - Kendall 17*
• Kendall caught Crook bowled Hooper 18 (Deep mid-wicket) - 152 for 5 in the 38th over - Mascarenhas 1*
• Prittipaul lbw bowled Mahmood 0 (First ball) - 152 for 6 in the 39th over - Mascarenhas 1*
• Udal caught Swann bowled Mahmood 0 (Deep square leg) - 152 for 7 in the 39th over - Mascarenhas 1*
• Tremlett caught Cork bowled Chapple 6 - 164 for 8 in the 43rd over - Mascarenhas 7*
• Mullally bowled Crook 3 - 171 for 9 in the 44th over - Mascarenhas 9*
• 189 for 9 from 45 overs - Mascarenhas 25* Taylor 2*

• Lancashire required 190 runs to win @ 4.22 per over
• Sutcliffe bowled Mullally 10 - 23 for 1 in the 3rd over - Crook 13*
• 52 for 1 in the 8th over - Crook 19* Law 18*
• Crook caught Kendall bowled Tremlett 20 (Cover point) - 65 for 2 in the 11th over - Law 32*
• 100 for 2 in the 17th over - Law 45* Chilton 21*
• 50 Law from 51 balls (7 x 4) - 115 for 2 in the 20th over - Chilton 31*
• 50 partnership - 116 for 2 in the 20th over - Law 50* Chilton 32*
• 154 for 2 in the 24th over - Law 76* Chilton 44*
• Law caught Taylor bowled Clarke 83 (Deep Mid-off) - 164 for 3 in the 26th over - Chilton 47*
• 50 Chilton from 60 balls (4 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 169 for 3 in the 29th over - Hooper 2*
• 192 for 3 in the 32nd over - Chilton 58* Hooper 17*
• Lancashire 4 points, beat Hampshire 0 points by 7 wickets
• Man of the match - Stuart Law

 

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