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

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Sussex

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Summary for Day 3

 

Sussex collected their first victory of the season shortly after 3.35pm after beating Lancashire by 8 wickets. The success was tainted by the unsporting bowling of Mohammad Akram, who bowled several hostile "beamers" at Gary Keedy and Carl Hooper, before being asked by umpire Holder to cease bowling any further in the match. The actions of Akram triggered a number of cross words between both teams, and provoked several hostile exchanges between spectators and opposition fielders located on the boundary edge. One exchange of aggression between Kirtley and two Lancashire supporters turned particularly nasty, with the Sussex bowler accusing Lancashire of being a bunch of whingers, and blaming the hosts for causing the problem with their persistent short pitched bowling on the first day.

 

Gary Keedy was still suffering significant pain when Akram induced an edge through to Ambrose the very next delivery after being struck on the hand. Obviously Akram was unable to dismiss Lancashire's nightwatchman without resorting to underhand tactics (175-4). Carl Hooper despatched Mushtaq Ahmed for six over the long-off boundary to pass fifty in the 50th over (58 balls). A quite remarkable effort considering Hooper's right hand was clearly causing significant concern. Three overs later, Hooper suffered a body blow when Akram turned his body line attack to the senior batsman.

 

In the 52nd over, Hooper (55) was adjudged leg before wicket by umpire Hampshire. Whilst admitting that Hooper did not play a shot, he did appear to be a long way down the wicket (203-6). Lancashire captain Warren Hegg was unlucky to chop the ball into his stumps for just 11 after chasing a slightly wide delivery from Lewry (207-7). At lunch Lancashire trailed by 34 runs with just 3 wickets remaining.

 

Sussex's bowlers only required forty minutes of the afternoon session to wrap up Lancashire's innings. Chapple (27) hauled out to Martin-Jenkins at long-on (247-8), Cork (31) skied a catch to the despised Akram at mid-off 5 overs later (284-9), whilst Mahmood's brave innings of 24 was ended by a catch in the deep by Lewry. James Anderson who replaced Steven Crook in the Lancashire line-up remained unbeaten on 2.

 

Set just 42 runs to win, Sussex wrapped up victory in just short of one hour for the loss of two wickets. Montgomerie (0) was caught at short leg again - this time by Mal Loye (2-1). Ward (26) edged Mahmood to Cork at first slip with just 9 runs required. The winning runs came courtesy of 4 byes which just about summed up Lancashire's overall performance. Meanwhile, Mohammad Akram should bow his head in shame.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Rain stop play from 11am to 11.35am - 10 overs lost
• Play eventually started at 11.40am as ground staff failed to prepare outfield adequately
• 152 for 4 in the 39th over - Hooper 27* Keedy 0*
• Mohammad Akram receives an official warning for bowling a beamer at Gary Keedy - 175 for 4 in the 47th over - Hooper 41* Keedy 5*
• Keedy caught Ambrose bowled Akram 5 (Following ball after beamer) - 175 for 5 in the47th over - Hooper 41*
• 50 Hooper from 58 balls (5 x 4 & 2 x 6) - 197 for 5 in the 50th over - Hegg 6*
• Mohammad Akram removed from the bowling attack for bowling a second beamer at Carl Hooper in the 51st over - Lewry asked to finish over - 200 for 5 - Hooper 52* Hegg 6*
• Hooper lbw bowled Mushtaq Ahmed 55 - 203 for 6 in the 52nd over - Hegg 7*
• Hegg bowled Lewry 11 (Played-on) - 207 for 7 in the 55th over - Chapple 0*
• Lunch - 222 for 7 from 62 overs - Chapple 11* Cork 4*
• Chapple caught Martin-Jenkins bowled Mushtaq Ahmed 27 (Long-on) - 247 for 8 in the 66th over - Cork 13*
• 250 for 8 in the 66th over - Cork 16* Mahmood 0*
• 256 for 8 in the 66th over - Cork 16* Mahmood 6* - Scores level, saved innings defeat - 2.10pm
• Cork caught Akram bowled Kirtley 31 (Skied to mid-off) - 284 for 9 in the 71st over - Mahmood 13*
• James Anderson joins Sajid Mahmood at the crease replacing Steven Crook
• Mahmood caught Lewry bowled Mushtaq Ahmed 24 (Long-off) - 297 all out in the 72nd over - Anderson 2* - 2.35pm - Lead by 41 runs

• Sussex required 42 runs to win
• Hooper, Law and Chapple not fielding - replaced by Crook, Rees and Horton
• Montgomerie caught Loye bowled Cork 0 (Short leg) - 2 for 1 in the 2nd over - Ward 2*
• Ward caught Cork bowled Mahmood 26 (1st slip) - 33 for 2 in the 12th over - Goodwin 7*
• 44 for 2 in the 13th over - Goodwin 11* Adams 3* - 3.40pm
• Sussex 22 points beat Lancashire by 8 wickets

 

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