Match report day 4: Lancs v Middx in Championship 2003 by Neil Adams

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Scorecard:

Lancashire v Middlesex

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Summary for Day 4

The 200-300 spectators who decided to attend the final days play in this four day encounter against Middlesex were richly rewarded with excellent cricket. Not for the first time this season, Lancashire found themselves in action well past 5.30pm - a tribute to the effort which the team made during the course of the day. Middlesex required just 101 to avoid the follow-on, but fell 40 runs short soon after midday. Hegg duly enforced the follow-on and was rewarded with a breakthrough with the final ball before lunch (29 for 1). Lancashire bowled tightly during the afternoon as the visitors seemed unsure whether to bat time, or accumulate runs. Only 2 wickets fell before the final interval of the game and once again a draw seemed likely. 4 wickets in the space of just 46 minutes turned the match on its head. Unfortunately, as the tension increased and the overs decreased, Lancashire were unable to make one final late charge for victory. Hegg finally surrendered the game at 5.40pm and both teams were forced to settle for 10 points - A very commendable effort from Lancashire and a never say die spirit - well done

 

Bowling Performance of the Day

This honour was shared by Gary Keedy and Carl Hooper. Keedy removed 5 batsmen during the day and finished with figures of 5 for 188, and 2 for 76. Hooper captured 4 wickets in Middlesex's second innings to finish with 4 for 51 (First innings 1 for 53). The pace bowlers continued to struggle on the pitch, although there was slightly more assistance than on the previous 3 days. Shah padded up to Martin for 15 (2nd innings), and Nash edged Chapple to Hooper standing at a wide second slip position for 15 (1st innings). Every other wicket fell to Keedy or Hooper

 

Batting Performance of the Day

Where would Middlesex have finished up in this game without Andrew Strauss? Following on from his first innings 155, the left handed opening batsman scored another 63 runs (9 x 4 - 123 minutes). He delayed Lancashire for over two hours before being caught by Chris Schofield moving in from square leg following a rare mistimed stroke. With the exception of Joe Dawes (0 not out first innings) and James Dalrymple (0 second innings) every Middlesex batsman reached double figures on the last days play

 

Fielding Performance of the Day

A number of opportunities were spurned by Lancashire throughout the day. Most of the drops occurred close to the wicket with no one player making two errors. Stuart Law is really struggling at first slip - at least 4 drops in the last 2 games. Hegg dropped Joyce shortly before the Middlesex left hander was taken by Haynes at silly point. Undoubtedly, Lancashire's most dynamic and enthusiastic fielder was Chris Schofield - he regularly chased the ball from his own bowling in the pursuit of a run out - a real live wire. He also caught Strauss mid way through the afternoon session following a mistimed pull stroke

 

Highlights of the Day

• The application and self belief which the team showed throughout the day - they never gave up on the game at any stage
• Both Carl Hooper's and Gary Keedy's bowling
• Hearing that Hampshire and Northamptonshire had both lost in the NCL!

 

Lowlights of the Day

• Narrowly failing to convert the match into a victory
• Not setting more aggressive fields
• Slightly over utilising the pace bowlers in the afternoon session
• The number of dropped catches although some were difficult - Stuart Law has dropped too many chances at first slip from spin bowling in the last couple of matches - he needs to be moved
• No sign of Mal Loye on the field (Last 2 days) due to back spasms - hope he is fit for Tuesday versus Surrey

 

Contentious Discussion Point of the Day

Not necessarily contentious but the key discussion point of the day - Umpire Peter Hartley sustained a broken bone in his left wrist when a ball was driven at him by James Dalrymple. Hartley was neither able to move out of the way in time, or stop the ball cleanly. Mike Watkinson acted as stand-in umpire at square leg from 11.50am until lunchtime. He was replaced by Mike Dixon, an umpire from the reserve list at the beginning of the afternoon session

 

Key Notes of the Day

• 100 Hutton from 240 balls (11 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 494 for 6 in the 148th over - Nash 8*
• 500 for 6 in the 151st over + 50 partnership - Hutton 103* Nash 11*
• 504 for 6 in the 151st over - Middlesex's highest ever score against Lancashire
• Hutton caught sub (Hogg) b Keedy 107 - 508 for 7 in the 152nd over - Nash 15*
• Nash caught Hooper bowled Chapple 5 - 508 for 8 in the 153rd over - Dalrymple 0*
• Dalrymple 4 dropped by Law at 1st slip - 522 for in the 154th over - Keegan 6*
• Umpire Hartley leaves the field - 533 for 8 in the 153rd over - Keegan 14*
• Keegan bowled Keedy 18 - 543 for 9 in the 162nd over - Dalrymple 16*
• Dalrymple bowled Keedy - 544 all out from 164 overs - Dawes 0* - 12.07pm

• Follow-on enforced at 12.17pm minimum 75 overs remaining
• Hutton caught Chilton bowled Keedy 10 (Last ball before lunch) - 29 for 1 from 9 overs - Strauss 14*
• 50 for i in the 13th over - Strauss 25* Shah 10*
• Shah lbw bowled Martin (No shot offered) 15 - 61 for in the 15th over - Strauss 31*
• 50 Strauss from 86 balls (7 x 4) - 90 for 2 in the 25th over - Joyce 5*
• 103 for 2 in the 30th over - Strauss 59* Joyce 7*
• Strauss caught Schofield bowled Hooper 63 - 107 for 3 in the 30th over - Joyce 7*
• Tea - 149 for 3 from 44 overs - Joyce 26* Nash 19* - Trail by 41 runs
• 152 for 3 in the 45th over - Joyce 29* Nash 19*
• 50 partnership - 157 for 3 in the 47th over - Joyce 30* Nash 23*
• Nash caught & bowled Hooper 23 - 157 for 4 in the 48th over - Joyce 30*
• Joyce 32 dropped by Hegg - 159 for 4 in the 49th over - Razzaq 0*
• Joyce 32 dropped by Haynes (Tough) - 159 for 4 in the 49th over - Razzaq 0*
• Joyce caught sub (Haynes) bowled Hooper 41 - 176 for 5 in the 54th over - Razzaq 8*
• Scores level 4.45pm - 190 for 5 in the 58th over - Razzaq 20* Weekes 2*
• Razzaq caught Hegg bowled Hooper 25 - 197 for 6 in the 64th over - Weekes 4*
• Dalrymple caught sub (Haynes) bowled Keedy 0 - 198 for 7 in the 65th over - Weekes 5*
• 203 for 7 in the 67th over - Weekes 10* Koenig 0*
• Weekes 24 dropped by Chilton (Sharp chance) - 233 for 7 in the 75th over - Koenig 14*
• 5.40pm - Match drawn - 237 for 7 from 78 overs - Weekes 26* Koenig 16*
• Lancashire 10 points, Middlesex 10 points

 

Lancashire Man of the Match

Carl Hooper for his 201 runs, 6 wickets and 1 catch

 

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