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

---

Scorecard:

Lancashire v Northamptonshire

---

Summary for Day 3

 

Lancashire's fortunes fluctuated throughout the course of the third days play. Ben Phillips (5) was snapped by Mal Loye at short extra cover with just the seventh ball of the day (Keedy's first ball of the day) - 258-6. In Keedy's second over of the morning, Louw (2) was adjudged leg before wicket (260-7). Better followed in Keedy's third over when Bailey (2) replicated the previous dismissal. When Shantry (5) was caught by Mongia in the 98th over, the visitors found themselves struggling on 284 for 9. Not for the first time this season, Lancashire struggled to capture the final wicket. Afzaal and Jones added 73 runs in just short of 17 overs despite facing the new ball and Lancashire's fast bowling attack. As the day progressed, these runs transpired to be crucial.

 

Stefan Jones (35) finally offered a bat pad chance to Sutcliffe at short leg in the 115th over, leaving Afzaal unbeaten on 133. The partnership of 73 for the last wicket was a record for Northamptonshire against Lancashire. The hosts overcame five tricky overs before lunch without any scares (8-0).

 

Initially Sutcliffe and Chilton scored runs without any problems. The game seemed to be drifting toward a draw with the score on 76 for 0 in the 23rd over. 31 runs and 13 overs later, Lancashire found themselves in desperate trouble on 107 for 4. The follow-on score of 208 seemed a life time away. Sutcliffe (48) fell leg before wicket (76-1), Chilton (35) chopped on with the score on 94. Law (3) offered a thin edge to Swann's delivery with the score on 97, and Loye was recklessly run out by Mongia attempting a difficult second run to the lively Usman Afzaal (107-4). Warren Hegg promoted himself to number six in the batting line-up.

 

Dinesh Mongia and Hegg steered Lancashire through to tea with 116 runs on the board. Unfortunately, 3 overs into the final session, Mongia (18) drove Swann to mid-on, where Shantry held an excellent diving catch (122-5). Cork joined Hegg at the crease and the pair batted with great application and common sense for 17 overs. With 30 runs to his name from 93 balls, Hegg hooked Louw to Tim Roberts fielding on the deep square leg boundary (169-6). As the skipper left the field, he cursed himself repeatedly for playing such an inappropriate stroke. Crook joined Cork in the middle with Lancashire still 39 runs short of the follow on target (208). One could sense Northamptonshire's anticipation at snatching their first victory of the season.

 

By the close, Cork remained unbeaten on 46 and Crook not out on 20, with the score on 214 for 6. The game seems destined to end a draw. As the covers were brought on by the ground staff, light rain started to fall.

 

Key Notes of the Day

• Phillips caught Loye bowled Keedy 4 (Short extra cover) - 258 for 6 in the 86th over - Afzaal 83*
• Louw lbw bowled Keedy 2 - 260 for 7 in the 88th over - Afzaal 83*
• Bailey lbw bowled 2 - 264 for 8 in the 90th over - Afzaal 84*
• Shantry caught Mongia bowled Keedy 5 - 284 for 9 in the 98th over - Afzaal 99*
• 100 Afzaal from 226 balls (11 x 4) - 285 for 9 in the 99th over - Jones 0*
• New ball taken - 312 for 9 from 103 overs - Afzaal 116* Jones 8*
• 50 partnership - 334 for 9 in the 107th over - Afzaal 120* Jones 26*
• 350 for 9 in the 112th over - Afzaal 127* Jones 34*
• Jones caught Sutcliffe bowled Mongia 35 (Short leg) - 357 all out in the 115th over - Afzaal 133*
• Lunch - 8 for 0 from 5 overs - Sutcliffe 7* Chilton 1*
• 51 for 0 in the 16th over - Sutcliffe 37* Chilton 12*
• Sutcliffe lbw bowled Swann 48 - 76 for 1 in the 23rd over - Chilton 26*
• Chilton bowled Phillips 35 (Played-on to middle stump) - 94 for 2 in the 30th over - Loye 9*
• Law caught Bailey bowled Swann 3 - 97 for 3 in the 33rd over - Loye 9*
• 103 for 3 in the 35th over - Loye 10* Mongia 5*
• Loye run out 10 (Afzaal from deep square leg) - 107 for 4 in the 36th over - Mongia 9*
• Tea - 116 for 4 from 40 overs - Mongia 15* Hegg 3*
• Mongia caught Shantry bowled Swann 18 (Mid-on) - 122 for 5 in the 43rd over - Hegg 5*
• 151 for 5 in the 52nd over - Hegg 15* Cork 19*
• Hegg caught Roberts bowled Louw 30 (Hooking to deep square leg boundary edge) -
• 169 for 6 in the 60th over - Cork 21*
• 200 for 6 in the 69th over - Cork 38* Crook 14*
• 208 for 6 in the 70th over - Follow-on avoided 6.16pm - Cork 44* Crook 16*
• Close of play - 214 for 6 from 74 overs - Cork 46* Crook 20*
• Lancashire 4 points, Northamptonshire 6 points

 

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