Match report Lancs v Northants totesport League 2004

Match report Lancs v Northants totesport League 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:

Summary

On Thursday night, England's football team exited Euro 2004 when they were beaten by Portugal on penalties. It was a harsh way to lose the game, and although the performance was not outstanding, the team fought tenaciously for 120 minutes and played with pride. Unfortunately, Lancashire totally failed to show the same qualities in this match against Northamptonshire. With minor exceptions, the team simply rolled over and died. This was particularly embarrassing as the Sky TV cameras were present once again, thus allowing the nation to see just how poor a team Lancashire have become in the space of 3 weeks. The time has come for Lancashire to face some harsh realities. They do not have the strength in depth which they believe. They will go down from both leagues if they carry on playing this poorly, and off the field unrest does transfer to the pitch. It is time to analyse all of these issues and sort things out now!

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat - well at least I think they did! Truthfully, they might as well have not bothered. A procession of players simply threw their wickets away. What has happened to Stuart Law, or have I already covered that in the first paragraph? Why are Lancashire unable to score as freely as their opponents? The hosts only managed 11 boundaries in their entire innings, while the Steelbacks eased past this total in just the 10th over. Why do other teams seem capable of containing our batsmen while Lancashire can barely recall their last maiden? Kent and Warwickshire eased their way past 300 in the previous 2 matches. Without any doubt, Northants would have completed the hat-trick. Two years ago, Lancashire went 13 games without a victory. They are well on the way to surpassing this figure (6 defeats and 1 draw since their last victory against Sussex in May).

Lancashire's only batsman who could claim any respect was Mark Chilton. He scored 51 runs before being dismissed (122-5). It was not a "pretty" innings to watch, but at least he applied himself. Meanwhile, Usman Afzaal should hang his head in shame after claiming a catch to dismiss Mongia (1). Without the intervention of television cameras, Mongia would have been given out - nobody likes a cheat. The hosts nearly batted all of their overs thanks to knocks of 15, 22 and 19 by Schofield, Cork and Hegg. A total of 176 all out was far from brilliant, but with accurate bowling, the match was still alive.

As usual when Lancashire's opponents take to the crease, the nature of the game was transformed with the ball flying to all areas of the ground. Despite the early wicket of Tim Roberts for 2 (16-1), the contest was effectively all over within 10 overs. Far too many second rate deliveries - harsh but true. Needless to say, the visitors romped to victory inside 28 overs (180-3). Graeme Swann blasted 76 whilst Van Jaarsveld was totally untroubled in his innings of 65 not out. The game finished so early that the floodlights were not required to play any part.

Key Notes of the Day

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
Loye caught Afzaal bowled Jones 3 (Skied to mid-wicket) - 9 for 1 in the 5th over - Chilton 5*
Law caught Van Jaarsveld bowled Jones 1 (2nd slip) - 13 for 2 in the 5th over - Chilton 8*
Mongia 1 - catch claimed by Afzaal - TV replay deemed Mongia to be in - 19 for 2 in the 9th over - Chilton 10*
53 for 2 in the 15th over - Chilton 26* Mongia 19*
Mongia caught Bailey bowled Phillips 24 (Wicket keeper) - 62 for 3 in the 17th over - Chilton 28*
A Swann caught G Swann b Brown 23 (Point) - 95 for 4 in the 26th over - Chilton 36*
100 for 4 in the 27th over - Chilton 39* Schofield 2*
50 Chilton from 98 balls (2 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 122 for 4 in the 32nd over - Schofield 13*
Chilton caught Afzaal bowled Brown 51 - 122 for 5 in the 32nd over - Schofield 13*
Crook bowled G Swann 0 - 124 for 6 in the 33rd over - Schofield 15*
Schofield caught & bowled Brown 15 - 124 for 7 in the 34th over - Cork 0*
150 for 7 in the 40th over - Cork 13* Hegg 12*
Cork caught Brophy bowled Brown 22 (Long-on) - 162 for 8 in the 42nd over - Hegg 14*
Wood 3 dropped by Brown at mid-wicket - 169 for 8 in the 44th over - Hegg 18*
Wood 4 run out by Roberts from point - 170 for 9 in the 44th over - Hegg 18*
Martin 4 dropped by Bailey (Wicket keeper) - 174 for 9 in the 44th over - Hegg 18*
Hegg caught Jones bowled Louw 19 (Covers) - 176 all out from 44.1 overs - Martin 5*

Northamptonshire required 177 to win @ 3.93 runs per over
Roberts lbw bowled Cork 2 - 16 for 1 in the 4th over - G Swann 12*
50 for 1 in the 10th over - G Swann 18* Van Jaarsveld 26*
50 partnership - 67 for 1 in the 12th over - G Swann 30* Van Jaarsveld 30*
50 G Swann from 40 balls (7 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 90 for 1 in the 15th over - Van Jaarsveld 33*
102 for 1 in the 16th over - G Swann 53* Van Jaarsveld 38*
100 partnership - 116 for 1 in the 17th over - G Swann 65* Van Jaarsveld 38*
G Swann caught A Swann bowled Mongia 76 (Long-off) - 138 for 2 in the 20th over - Van Jaarsveld 44*
150 for 2 in the 23rd over - Van Jaarsveld 48* Afzaal 8*
Afzaal caught Hegg bowled Martin 8 (Leg side hook shot) - 150 for 3 in the 23rd over - Van Jaarsveld 48*
50 Van Jaarsveld from 57 balls (8 x 4) - 154 for 3 in the 24th over - Sales 0*
180 for 3 from 27.1 overs - Van Jaarsveld 65* Sales 12*
Northamptonshire beat Lancashire by 7 wickets