Match report: Worcs v Lancs in C&G Trophy 2003
by Neil Adams
Summary
Lancashire's dream of reaching a Lord's final was shattered
in the last over of this pulsating semi-final cup match
against Worcestershire. Andrew Hall bowled a double
wicket maiden, and also assisted in a run out, as the
visitors fell at the final hurdle. Painful memories of the
last ball defeat against Warwickshire at Old Trafford last
season flashed back as the players left the field. This was
Lancashire's 5th successive semi-final defeat - a bitter pill
to swallow. Worcestershire's inclusion in this years final
ensured a "full house" of NCL division 1 teams in the finals
this season (Gloucestershire 2, Surrey 1, Warwickshire 1
Leicestershire 1, and Worcestershire 1) Perhaps the first
division of the NCL does contain the stronger one-day teams.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to field. The wicket
failed to provide any early assistance. Worcester failed
to build on a super foundation laid by Singh and Hick (159
for 1 in the 34th over) - The home side stuttered toward
254 for 5 from their 50 overs. An dodgy umpiring decision
in the 6th over set Lancashire back - Chilton the unfortunate
player. Loye dominated the strike. Law only scored 1 run
between the 34th and 70th run. His dismissal came as no
surprise under the circumstances. Hooper failed for once -
he can be forgiven. Flintoff received the second poor umpiring
decision of the day - oh dear John Holder! Schofield smashed
32 from 31 balls including 4 boundaries in one over. Chapple
steered Lancashire to the brink of victory with 44 runs (6 x 4).
Hegg snatched a single from the last ball of the 49th over. The
single was rightly cheered at the time, but perhaps in retrospect
it would have been better if Loye had kept the strike. Hegg and
Martin fell to the 1st and 3rd ball of the last over. Wood failed to
leave his crease on the 5th ball and the game was over. One can
only hope this defeat stirs Lancashire on to success in the NCL
and the Championship rather than being the catalyst for a late
season demise - after all, Lancashire have played very well
this season and deserve some reward
Bowling Performance of the Day
Lancashire alternated their bowlers regularly due to the
heat. Martin, Anderson and Flintoff all bowled 3 spells,
while Chapple and Wood bowled 2 spells. Hooper bowled
7 overs in a succesion for 38 runs. Flintoff finished with the
best figures - 2 for 33 from 8 overs. Anderson conceded
13 runs from the 50th over of Worcestershire's innings
including a needless no-ball bouncer
Batting Performance of the Day
You have to feel sorry for Mal Loye. He batted throughout the
entire 50 overs of Lancashire's innings and finished on 116 not
out (9 x 4 & 3 x 6). He was deprived of the strike at a crucial
time (Last over - first 5 balls). Loye played through 5 maidens
in the game (3 from Mason, 1 from Ali and 1 from Batty). He
reached his fifty from just 57 balls and his 100 from 137 balls.
Fielding Performance of the Day
A very tough day in the field for Lancashire especially
considering the temperature (36 degrees). Hegg dropped Hick before
he reached his 50, and Chapple dropped the same player with a sharp
caught and bowled opportunity later in the game. Mark Chilton had
two chances to run out Hick, but failed to hit the stumps on either
occasion. Chris Schofield was probably Lancashire's best fielder
throughout Worcestershire's innings. He held a smart catch to
dismiss Singh, and prevent numerous runs fielding at point
Highlights of the Day
- Mal Loye's innings
- Chris Schofield dispatching
Gareth Batty for four boundaries in five balls in the 37th
over - he turned the game back in favour of Lancashire
and demonstrated the teams self belief and strong batting
line-up.
- Mal Loye's sweep/slog for 6 from a free-hit
Lowlights of the Day
- Not running a bye to the wicket keeper on the 5th ball
of the last over - John Wood stood still instead of charging
down the wicket to the bowlers end. Surely, Wood realized
that without a run from the 5th ball, Lancashire could not
win the game.
- Not managing to score one run from the
final over - no one seemed capable of pushing a single to
allow Mal Loye to have the strike
- Failing to make the
final for the 5th consecutive time
Contentious Discussion Point of the Day
Some of umpire Holder's leg before wicket decisions
appeared to be debatable. Chilton appeared to be marginally
outside the line of off stump, and Flintoff was an enormous
distance down the track with wicket keeper Rhodes heading
down leg side
Key Notes of the Day
- Lancashire won the toss and toss and elected to field
- Solanki caught Hegg bowled Anderson 2 - 4 for 1 in the 2nd over - Singh 1*
- 50 for 1 in the 13th over - Singh 22* Hick 24*
- 50 partnership - 55 for 1 in the 14th over - Singh 25* Hick 26*
- 50 Hick from 57 balls (9 x 4) - 89 for 1 in the 2nd over - Singh 33*
- 101 for 1 in the 23rd over - Hick 55* Singh 40*
- 100 partnership - 106 for 1 in the 23rd over - Hick 59* Singh 41*
- 50 Singh from 80 balls (6 x 4) - 122 for 1 in the 27th over - Hick 62*
- 152 for 1 in the 33rd over - Hick 79* Singh 62*
- 150 partnership - 155 for 1 in the 33rd over - Hick 81* Singh 63*
- Singh caught Schofield bowled Flintoff 63 - 159 for 2 in the 34th over - Hick
81*
- Hick caught Hooper bowled Chapple 97 - 191 for 3 in the 41st over - Smith 16*
- 200 for 3 in the 42nd over - Smith 23* Hall 1*
- Hall caught Chilton bowled Anderson 26 - 237 for 4 in the 48th over - Smith 34*
- Smith caught Anderson bowled Flintoff 36 - 240 for 5 in the 49th over -
Leatherdale 1*
- 250 for 5 in the 50th over - Batty 5* Leatherdale 4*
- 254 for 5 in the 50th over - Batty 9* Leatherdale 4*
- Chilton lbw bowled Hayward 6 - 15 for 1 in the 6th over - Loye 8*
- 51 for 1 in the 10th over - Loye 31* Law 8*
- 50 partnership - 66 for 1 in the 13th over - Loye 42* Law 8*
- Law caught Hall bowled Mason 8 - 70 for 2 in the 14th over - Loye 46*
- 50 Loye from 57 balls (5 x 4 & 1 x 6) - 74 for 2 in the 15th over - Hooper 0*
- Hooper lbw bowled Hall 1 - 80 for 3 in the 19th over - Loye 56*
- Mason second warning for running on wicket in 26th over - 97 for 3
- 100 for 3 in the 27th over - Loye 65* Flintoff 7*
- Flintoff lbw bowled Hall 15 - 108 for 4 in the 30th over - Loye 66*
- 153 for 4 in the 37th over - Loye 92* Schofield 16*
- 50 partnership - 161 for 4 in the 37th over - Loye 92* Schofield 24*
- Schofield caught Haywood bowled Leatherdale 32 - 171 for 5 in the 38th over -
Loye 92*
- 200 for 5 in the 43rd over - Loye 99* Chapple 17*
- 100 Loye from 137 balls (9 x 4 & 4 x 6) - 201 for 5 in the 43rd over - Chapple
17*
- 50 partnership - 222 for 5 in the 46th over - Loye 112* Chapple 24*
- Chapple bowled Ali 44 - 247 for 6 in the 49th over - Loye 116*
- Hegg bowled Hall 1 - 248 for 7 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
- Martin bowled Hall 0 - 248 for 8 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
- Wood run out (Rhodes) 0 - 248 for 9 in the 50th over - Loye 116*
- 248 for 9 from 50 overs - Loye 116* Anderson 0*
- Worcestershire win by 6 runs
Lancashire Man of the Match
Mal Loye for his superb innings of 116
(Article: Copyright © 2004 Neil Adams http://www.cricketimages.co.uk/adams-report/intro.html)
