Match report day 1: Worcs v Lancs in Championship 2004

Match report day 1: Worcs v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:	Worcestershire v Lancashire
Other links:	Day 2, Day 3, Day 4

Summary of day 1

At last Lancashire experienced a prosperous day in the county championship arena. Lady luck smiled on the visitors when Hegg called correctly at the toss and elected to bat first. The pitch possessed a slight green tinge early on, which might have accounted for Chilton (3) in the 5th over of the day. Periodically, Lancashire lost wickets to keep the game in the balance. Hooper's customary cheap dismissal left Lancashire stuttering on 128 for 4. Thankfully, Stuart Law played a majestic innings of 159 before being given out leg before wicket to a somewhat dubious decision. Andrew Crook, on debut, scored 27 and clearly possesses massive talent. One hopes Lancashire will keep him in the first team rather than discarding him on the scrap heap like a majority of Lancashire's other up and coming youngsters. Shortly before the close of play, Lancashire attained their fourth batting point, and finished on 350 for 8. With a poor weather forecast for the next couple of days, a contrived finish seems to be the most likely outcome.

Key Notes of the Day

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
Chilton bowled Bichel 3 (Off stump) - 5 for 1 in the 4th over - Sutcliffe 2*
Loye 8 dropped in the gully by Kadeer Ali - 29 for 1 in the 12th over - Sutcliffe 17*
Loye caught Rhodes bowled Mason 17 - 47 for 2 in the 18th over - Sutcliffe 25*
51 for 2 in the 19th over - Sutcliffe 29* Law 0*
Lunch - 88 for 2 from 35 overs - Sutcliffe 39* Law 27*
Law 27 dropped caught & bowled to Price - single taken leading to 50 partnership - 97 for 2 in the 39th over - Sutcliffe 47* Law 28*
50 Sutcliffe from 116 balls (10 x 4) - 101 for 2 in the 41st over - Law 28*
Sutcliffe stumped Rhodes bowled Price 51 (2 balls after 50) - 101 for 3 in the 41st over - Law 28*
Hooper lbw bowled Hall 8 - 128 for 4 in the 48th over - Law 47*
50 Law (11 x 4) - 133 for 4 in the 48th over - Andrew Crook 1*
150 for 4 in the 53rd over - Law 61* Crook 8*
50 partnership - 181 for 4 in the 60th over - Law 75* Crook 25*
Crook caught Rhodes bowled Khalid 27 - 183 for 5 in the 61st over - Law 75*
202 for 5 in the 65th over - Law 78* Chapple 16*
Chapple 16 missed chance to Mason at extra cover (Skied chance but failed to get hands on the ball) - 209 for 5 in the 67th over - Law 85*
Tea - 228 for 5 from 72 overs - Law 93* Chapple 27*
50 partnership - 233 for 5 in the 74th over - Law 98* Chapple 27*
100 Law from 151 balls (16 x 4) - 235 for 5 in the 75th over - Chapple 27*
250 for 5 in the 79th over - Law 113* Chapple 29*
Law 117 dropped caught & bowled by Hall (Very tough - hit hard) - 261 for 5 in the 82nd over - Chapple 36*
100 partnership - 285 for 5 in the 86th over - Law 128* Chapple 49*
50 Chapple from 79 balls (9 x 4) - 286 for 5 in the 87th over - Law 128*
Chapple caught Peters bowled Price 50 (Extra cover) - 291 for 6 in the 87th over - Law 133*
303 for 6 in the 92nd over - Law 141* Hegg 3*
150 Law from 211 balls (23 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 318 for 6 in the 95th over - Hegg 7*
New ball taken - 324 for 6 in the 97th over - Law 158* Hegg 7*
Law lbw bowled Bichel 159 (Bad decision) - 326 for 7 in the 99th over - Hegg 8*
Cork caught & bowled Bichel 8 - 348 for 8 in the 103rd over - Hegg 22*
350 for 8 in the 103rd over - Hegg 22* Mahmood 2*
Close of play - 350 for 8 from 104 overs - Hegg 22* Mahmood 2*
Worcestershire 2 points, Lancashire 4 points