Match report: Lancs v Derbys in NCL 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Derbyshire

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Summary

When Lancashire announce their team for the Cheltenham & Gloucester cup on August 9th, Carl Hooper's name will be top of the name sheet (Sorry Warren!). With Derbyshire in control of the game at 92 for 2 in the 18th over, a score in excess of 250 was on the cards. Kaif and Di Venuto were stroking the host bowlers' to the boundary with regularity and without appearing to be in the slightest bit of trouble. Suddenly, Hooper "sprung" into life (Quite literally!) to catch Di Venuto at mid-wicket. In the blink of eye, Derbyshire's innings crumbled from 92 for 2 to 177 for 9. However, Hooper was not finished the Scorpions players just yet. He preceded to smash 79 runs from just 70 balls to steer Lancashire to an easy 8 wicket victory. Ignoring the no-result match against Somerset, Lancashire have now won 7 games in a row in the NCL, and not too surprisingly find themselves sitting pretty on the top of the table - bring on Worcester!

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

Lancashire's "back-up" bowlers turned in a number of excellent performances. Chilton removed Di Venuto and Hewson in the space of 8 balls and finished with 2 for 23 from 5 overs. Chris Schofield dismissed the dangerous Kaif and Sutton within the space of his first 8 balls of the match. He turned the ball prodigiously at times and posed a real threat to Derbyshire's lower order batsmen. Carl Hooper (Sorry Carl for referring to you as a back-up bowler!) finished with 3 for 30 from 9 overs. He captured 3 wickets for 4 runs within the space of 7 balls to leave Derbyshire's innings in "tatters"

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Stuart Law scored 39 from just 35 deliveries (8 x 4). His brief but exhilarating innings was eclipsed by Carl Hooper. None of the 8,500 crowd dared to move from their seat while Hooper smashed Derbyshire's bowlers to every corner of the ground. He reached his fifty from just 55 balls, and finished with 79 runs from 70 balls (9 x 4 & 4 x 6). As usual, Hooper hit several huge sixes, and in a similar manner to the championship match at Leicester a couple of days previous, he hit a six for the winning runs. This was an awesome innings by Hooper - no wonder Lancashire opened up a 6 point gap at the top of the table

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

Lancashire's fielding was extremely good. Only a couple of chances were not taken. Hooper's leaping catch to dismiss Di Venuto was incredible (Above his head with minimal time to react to a firmly struck shot). Mal Loye also held a brilliant catch to dismiss Sutton on the deep mid-wicket boundary. If Loye had not taken the catch, the ball would have gone for six. He too held the ball above his head whilst moving slightly to his right

 

Highlights of the Day

• All of Carl Hooper's sixes. As usual, they were huge. He hit one into the press box, one into the Washbrook stand and another one into the children's play area at the Warwick Road End.
• Carl Hooper's catch to dismiss Di Venuto
• Mal Loye's catch to dismiss Luke Sutton on the mid-wicket boundary
• Mal Loye's excellent innings which almost went unnoticed

 

Lowlight of the Day

Kyle Hogg struggled with his bowling again (2 overs for 22 runs), Hegg was forced to remove him from the attack and utilise his back-up bowlers. Hogg was clearly suffering from his recent illness and is still not completely match fit

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

A streaker emerged from the Brian Statham End at the beginning of the 14th over. The "Idiot" jumped both sets of stumps before leaving the field. No attempt was made by the stewards to intervene. Not very good publicity considering the size of the crowd and the number of children present

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat
• Selwood caught Hooper bowled Chapple 1 - 2 for 1 in the 2nd over - Di Venuto 1*
• Bassano lbw bowled Martin 1 - 7 for 2 in the 3rd over - Di Venuto 5*
• Kaif 10 missed opportunity by Law at first slip - 19 for 2 in the 6th over - Di Venuto 5*
• 51 for 2 in the 12th over - Kaif 29* Di Venuto 18*
• 50 Partnership - 59 for 2 in the 12th over - Kaif 37* Di Venuto 18*
• Di Venuto caught Hooper bowled Chilton 40 - 92 for 3 in the 18th over - Kaif 46*
• 100 for 3 in the 20th over - Kaif 47* Hewson 6*
• Hewson caught Hegg bowled Chilton 6 - 101 for 4 in the 20th over - Kaif 48*
• 50 Kaif from 59 balls (9 x 4) - 108 for 4 in the 23rd over - Sutton 5*
• Kaif 51 dropped by Loye - 111 for 4 in the 23rd over - Sutton 7*
• 50 partnership + 152 for 4 in the 32nd over - Kaif 68* Sutton 23*
• Kaif caught & bowled Schofield 70 - 157 for 5 in the 33rd over - Sutton 25*
• Sutton caught Loye bowled Schofield 27 - 162 for 6 in the 34th over - Cork 3*
• Cork stumped Hegg bowled Hooper 5 - 167 for 7 in the 35th over - Dumelow 3*
• Dumelow lbw bowled Hooper 7 - 174 for 8 in the 38th over - Gunter 3*
• Gunter caught Hegg bowled Hooper 5 - 177 for 9 in the 38th over - Dean 1*
• Dean caught Loye bowled Martin 12 - 197 all out from 43.4 overs - Ali 8*

• Chilton caught Bassano bowled Dean 10 - 20 for 1 in the 4th over - Loye 4*
• 50 for 1 in the 10th over - Loye 14* Law 20*
• 50 partnership - 73 for 1 in the 14th over - Loye 30* Law 25*
• Law caught Kaif bowled Hewson 39 - 93 for 2 in the 17th over - Loye 36*
• 102 for 2 in the 20th over - Loye 38* Hooper 7*
• 50 partnership - 145 for 2 in the 28th over - Loye 48* Hooper 39*
• 50 Loye from 78 balls (5 x 4) - 149 for 2 in the 29th over - Hooper 39*
• 150 for 2 in the 29th over - Loye 53* Hooper 39*
• 50 Hooper from 55 balls (6 x 4 & 2 x 6) - 164 for 2 in the 32nd over - Loye 56*
• 100 partnership - 193 for 2 in the 36th over - Loye 62* Hooper 73*
• 199 for 2 in the 36th over - Loye 62* Hooper 79*
• Lancashire win by 8 wickets
• Lancashire 4 points, Derbyshire 0 points

 

Man of the Match

No prizes for guessing - Carl Hooper 79 runs, 2 catches and 3 wickets - enough said

 

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