Worcs Vs. Lancs CB40: 27th August

Smith smashes record breaking century in wash-out at New Road.

Tom Smith’s return to Lancashire’s side could not have

gone any better, as he scored an impressive 106 from

46 balls, smashing 8 fours and 10 sixes. He broke the

Lancashire record for the fastest century, taking just 44

balls, with the previous best by Andrew Flintoff coming

from 50 balls. It was not all about Tom Smith, as

Stephen Moore’s return to his former county saw him

score an equally impressive 113 from 105 balls, with 11

fours and 2 sixes, in an opening stand worth 150.

Steven Croft replicated his fine form Chelmsford on Thursday, scoring 67 from 52 balls, with 2 fours and 4 sixes. After rain had interrupted play on several occasions, the innings was limited to 37 overs, with the visitors reaching their highest ever one day score against Worcestershire of 324-4. Between the two innings however the rain continued to fall and for the first time in the CB40 campaign this season, Lancashire were involved in a no result fixture.

Having already qualified to the semi finals and with a home tie, the result of this game had no bearing on Lancashire’s progress and another point only added to an impressive finish to the league, with Lancashire finishing on the highest total of all three groups of 19 points from 12 games.

In the draw of the CB40 semi final it was announced that Lancashire would play Warwickshire at home on Saturday 1^st September, which will please the lightning giving that the Bears qualified on a best placed second placed side basis. Their home form is also unprecedented this season with victory coming from all six games at Old Trafford. 

Essex Vs. Lancs CB40 report: 23rd August

Newby claims first 5-wicket-haul to give Lightning home tie.

Oliver Newby claimed his first ever career

five-wicket-haul, finishing with figures of
5-35 and Karl Brown scored 87*, as
Lancashire earned not only guaranteed qualification to the semi-finals but also a home tie. Lancashire claimed their ninth victory from just eleven games. The Essex Eagles lost their fifth game of Group A and now have an all but futile season ahead with no interest remaining in any campaign.

Lancashire’s track record at Chelmsford before this match suggested a loss was in store for the visitors, with Lancashire’s last win at Chelmsford coming in 1999 and when the Eagles won the toss and decided to bat, the same scenario appeared to be in the making. At the end of the first powerplay (8 overs) the home side had reached 44-0 with Mark Pettini and Tom Westley batting in style. The first bowling change, and the introduction of Oliver Newby, brought Lancashire their first wicket as Westley chipped the ball to captain Glen Chapple for 21. Essex’s run rate already appeared to be slowing down and when Newby claimed Pettini’s wicket, playing a poor shot to Paul Horton for 27, the Eagles were struggling at 59-2.

Gary Keedy redeemed a poor fielding effort by catching Greg Smith (9), to give Newby his third wicket in just three overs. The partnership of Owais Shah and Ryan Ten Doeschate had the potential to do a lot of damage to Lancashire, but the latter made just 6 runs before he launched Keedy’s delivery into the air and Horton claimed a second catch. The impatient manor in which Essex had approached their innings seemed to be taking its toll at 78-4, as Essex captain, James Foster, joined Shah. Together they re-built the innings with a partnership worth 30, before a stunning direct hit run out from Karl Brown (pictured above) ended Shah’s innings for 24. Typically, after a solid partnership had ended, one wicket brought another with Foster bowled by Stephen Parry for 13.

At 110-6, Essex were faced with setting a score that was very much below par and it took Adam Wheater and Tim Phillips, who both scored 25, to give Essex a shred of hope. The seventh wicket partnership, worth 45 runs, was starting to undo Lancashire’s hard work and so the wicket of Wheater was met with great reception by the visitors, with Newby taking his fourth wicket and Horton claiming a third catch. Overseas signing, Harbhajan Singh, has great potential as an aggressive batsman and with the innings coming to a close a quick burst of runs was welcomed by the Essex faithful. His running was however questionable and he was certainly responsible for the run out of Phillips who was less than pleased with the Indian spinner. Singh smashed a four and a six to lift the score and the dampened spirits of the home side, before picking out Chapple on the boundary to give Ajmal Shahzad a wicket after a disappointing first spell with the ball. The last partnership between Maurice Chambers (2) and Tymal Mills (0*) was unable to add any more runs, as Chambers edged behind to Gareth Cross off Newby, with the home side posting a disappointing score of 186 all out and Newby claiming his first ever five wicket haul.

Despite having to chase under lights, Lancashire will have felt confident going out to bat, needing to score at just 4.68 runs per over. Stephen Moore (9) and Ashwell Prince (14) have been renowned for getting the Lightning off to fast starts, but in what Bob Willis described as “a rush of blood to the head” both batsmen played on to their own stumps and seemingly gave away their wickets.

Steven Croft and Karl Brown not only managed to steady a worrying situation for the visitors, but were also able to guide Lancashire towards victory. Nearly twenty overs after Chambers had claimed Moore’s wicket, Karl Brown reached his fifty from 57 balls, striking 4 fours and 2 huge sixes. The hundred partnership came up in the twenty-sixth over, in what would prove to be the highest stand for the third-wicket in one-day matches between Lancashire and Essex, beating the previous best of 114 between Clive Lloyd and Neil Fairbrother in 1986. Croft soon joined his batting partners milestone, reaching his 50 from 73 balls, also scoring 4 fours in the process.

As the innings came to a close, Lancashire started to play with the confidence they had earned from the third wicket stand worth 160. Sky Sports man of the match, Karl Brown, added another 4 fours and a six to an already impressive innings, as he top scored with 87*. Accompanied by the ever reliable Steven Croft (66*), Lancashire cruised to an impressive eight-wicket victory to ensure that they are not only through to the semi finals of this years Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign, but they will also play at home, where they are unbeaten so far this season. Lancashire will play away at Worcestershire on Monday and after the match they will find out who they will face at home on Saturday 1^st September.

Gloucestershire Gladiators Vs. Lancashire Lightning CB40

Lightning qualify for CB40 semi-final by defeating Gladiators.

Lancashire have qualified for this

years CB40 semi-final by defeating

Gloucestershire Gladiators by 18

runs. After a disappointing effort with the bat, Lancashire’s bowling attack,led by skipper Glen Chapple (5-26), were able to guide Lancashire to their eighth victory of the CB40 campaign. After he heroically guided Lancashire home with the bat last year at Cheltenham, Oliver Newby was once again essential, Scoring 37 when Lancashire were 143-8.

After yet another drawn game in the County Championship against Worcestershire, visitors Lancashire were keen to turn their attention towards the competition that they have been so successful in, and winning the toss certainly boosted their spirits. Stephen Moore returned to the Lancashire side after he was left in the match at New Road and accompanied by Ashwell Prince sought to gain some form with the bat. But he was caught behind by John Batty off James Fuller for 14, with the Lightning on 20-1. Prince (25) was joined by the in-form Steven Croft and a partnership of 43 runs seemed to suggest that batting was easy but Prince was soon caught by Daniel Housego off David Payne, as Lancashire reached a steady score of 63-2.

But Lancashire’s middle order was unable to provide stability to the efforts of Croft and Prince. Karl Brown was trapped LBW for Benny Howell for just 3 and when Croft (31) was caught by Ian Cockbain off spinner Ed Young Lancashire had stumbled to 85-4. New batsmen Gareth Cross and Paul Horton were likewise unable to get Lancashire out of trouble loosing their wickets in quick succession. Cross was stumped by Batty off Young for 9 and then Horton edged to Batty off young pace-bowler Fuller, as Lancashire were struggling at 100-6.

Tail-enders, Ajmal Shahzad (13) and Glen Chapple (16), were starting to look promising with the bat but it was difficult to prevent the spinner Young, who claimed his third wicket when Shahzad was caught by Howell. Chapple, who would prove instrumental with the ball, was only able to score 16 before he was caught by Alex Gidman off Payne (3-48) with Lancashire on dissapoiting score of 143-8. Last year Oliver Newby struck 35* at Cheltenham to guide the Lightning home and his score of 37 was an essential part of Lancashire’s success today. Accompanied by Stephen Parry (12), who was caught by Young off Payne on the final delivery of the innings, Lancashire were able to reach a dignified score of 182-9.

Lancashire’s success this year has certainly come from their ability to bowl economically and take wickets regularly and this would prove dividend today. Shahzad struck first when Hamish Marshall was caught superbly by Croft and Chapple soon followed with Rob Nicol being caught by Parry as Lancashire dismissed both openers for one run a piece. At 2-2 the home side were struggling and when Benny Howell was bowled by Chapple for 6 the situation became desperate. Chapple struck yet another blow, dismissing Dan Housego who edged behind to Gareth Cross for 4, with Gloucestershire floundering at 16-4.

Alex Gidman (36) and Ian Cockbain (11) were able to revive the innings with a partnership worth 45 as the new ball appeared to be loosing affect. Gidman was gaining in confidence, but Lancashire’s star-man with the bat, Newby, forced him to edge to Paul Horton with Gloucestershire on 61-5. Ian Cockbain scored 58 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford but was only able to muster 11 runs before he was caught by Karl Brown off veteran spinner, Gary Keedy.  

Will Gidman (32) and James Fuller (43) managed to steer Gloucestershire’s run chase back in the right direction with a 55-run partnership, which frustrated Lancashire after such an easy start. The partnership ended in disappointing style with Gidman being stumped off Steven Croft. Gloucestershire had reached 130-7 after a difficult start and were still in need of something special to win the match. Ed Young assisted Fuller in the Gladiators pursuit for victory but the return of Glen Chapple was too good for the tail-ender who edged behind to Cross for just 12. All the while Fuller continued to score quickly and soon, Gloucester were no longer fighting against the run rate, but the lack of wickets in hand at 158-8.

Still requiring 23 runs for victory, the home side were reliant on James Fuller, who was running out of batting partners. John Batty gave Chapple his five-wicket haul when he was bowled for 3, as the Lancashire skipper finished with figures of 5-26. Both sides were capable of winning the match, but the regular loss of wickets caused Gloucestershire to let victory to slip away and when Ajmal Shahzad forced top scorer, Fuller, to edge behind the home side were all out for 164. Lancashire’s eighth CB40 victory has guaranteed them a semi final spot and if they can win at Essex on Thursday then they will ensure a home fixture, which could prove vital giving that they were unbeaten at home throughout this campaign.

Worcs Vs. Lancs Day Four Report

Lancashire’s eighth draw of the season furthers relegation fears.

The current LV County Championship

Title holders Lancashire are now strong

Relegation candidates after their eighth

draw in thirteen games and still only

one win. Fellow relegation favourites

Worcestershire are also experiencing a

tough season but have a game in hand

over visitors, Lancashire, who are

likely to be bottom after both sides have

played the same number of games.

When Lancashire resumed on 10-0, they had the intention of earning some batting bonus points, but in a season of disappointing form with the bat, Lancashire were only able to score 219 and achieve one batting point. Openers, Paul Horton (15) and Luke Procter (16), were not able to give Lancashire the start that they desired adding just 21 runs to their overnight score before Horton edged to Worcester captain Daryl Mitchell off Gareth Andrew. Procter shortly followed when Alan Richardson bowled the youngster, as Lancashire reached a humble 35-2.

Karl Brown was next to fall when he was trapped LBW to Andrew for 12, as Worcestershire achieved a bowling bonus point. The recent form of Ashwell Prince has been the primary strength of Lancashire’s four-day team, but even he failed to make a big score, edging to Mitchell off Andrew for 9. Lancashire reached 84-4 at lunch and were looking nervous in search of batting points.

Light rain fell in the lunch interval but play started on time, with Steven Croft (28) and Andrea Agathangelou (7) hoping to advance at least towards 200. But Lancashire were only able to add five runs to their lunchtime score as Agathangelou was caught behind by Ben Scott to give Richardson his second wicket. Croft departed shortly after also caught behind as Andrew claimed his fourth wicket, with the visitors resigned to 93-6.

A seventh-wicket partnership worth 58 runs between Gareth Cross (39) and Kyle Hogg (14) was able to redeem Lancashire’s chances of achieving a batting bonus point, but Lancashire’s batting was once again coming into question. Moeen Ali proved destructive with the ball at Old Trafford and he struck his first blow at New Road when Hogg edged to Mitchell at second slip, as the visitors reached 151-7. Cross immediately followed as Joe Leach bowled the Lancashire keeper, with the target of 200 looking bleak at best.

But the efforts of Lancashire captain, Glen Chapple (27) and Ajmal Shahzad (28*) helped the visitors reach their first and only batting point. Chapple smashed Moeen Ali for a towering six over long-on, but as he tried to replicate this once more he was stumped by Scott with Lancashire on 187-9, still thirteen short of their target. Shahzad was joined by Simon Kerrigan and the ex-Yorkshire all-rounder led the visitors over their target of 200 as Lancashire had a rare period of elation in an otherwise dismal day. Kerrigan was soon stumped for 8 to give Mooen Ali his third wicket, as the umpires called tea on the final day, with the visitors all-out for 216.

The unlikely combination of Kyle Hogg and Steven Croft opened Lancashire’s bowling attack in the final session and were joined by Karl Brown and Simon Kerrigan in a futile attempt to make something happen in this rain-interrupted fixture. It wasn’t long before the players shook hands, with the score at 33-0 and both Worcestershire openers unbeaten, Daryl Mitchell scoring 16 and Matthew Pardoe reached 4 when the players walked off the field of play.

Both sides will be once again frustrated by yet another rain interrupted draw, particular Lancashire who are experiencing a difficult season in contrast to their title success of last season. Worcestershire have the small consolation of gaining more points from this match (Worcestershire 8pts, Lancashire 6pts) and despite being bottom have a game in hand over their relegation companions Lancashire. To add insult to injury both Surrey and Durham ended this round of matches with a victory, to further increase the challenge both sides face of avoiding relegation. The frustration was summed up perfectly today when the church bells rang continuously for four hours and for both of the sides the bells certainly toll.  

Worcs Vs. Lancs Day Three Report

Further rain prevents progress on third day.

Day three of this LV County Championship match between Worcestershire and Lancashire restricted the bottom two sides in the endeavour to avoid relegation, in a game already heavily damaged by the weather. After the whole of the first day was washed-out both sides were anxious to finally achieve some batting and bowling bonus points but a combination of bad light and rain has all but guaranteed another draw, which will not suit either side.

When hosts Worcestershire resumed on 219-6, just two more overs were bowled before bad light caused the first delay of the day. Play resumed briefly as the hero of day two, Neil Pinner (82), add to his overnight score of 79* before the Lancashire captain, Glen Chapple, trapped him LBW, as Worcestershire reached 223-7. But a heavy rain delay saw the majority of the day washed-out and little progress on the third day.

When play did resume, the only bonus point of the day went to Worcester, as a composed eight-wicket partnership of 28 runs from Gareth Andrew (12*) and Ben Scott (14*) saw the home side past 250. When they had reached this milestone, Worcestershire saw it fit to declare, as they denied Lancashire their unlikely chance off acquiring further bowling bonus points.

After the hosts declaration, Lancashire openers Paul Horton (1*) and Luke Procter (9*) were only able to reach 10-0 by close of play. With affectively two whole days of this game being affected by the weather, a result is highly unlikely and both sides must now be very fearful of the threat of relegation. Relegation candidates Surrey and Durham are also going into the last of four days with a strong chance of winning putting further pressure on Worcestershire and current champions Lancashire.

Worcs Vs. Lancs Day Two

Pinner resists Lancashire onslaught on day two.

Hosts Worcestershire were

able to recover to 219-6 after

they had stumbled to 108-5.

The efforts of Neil Pinner (79*)

and Joe Leach (46) allowed the

home side to claim some pride

to frustrate Lancashire after a

successful morning session.

After rain washed out the entire

first day of this LV County

Championship match, both

Lancashire and Worcestershire

will be frustrated by their lack of

progress both in this match and       

this season which has been

heavily influenced by the weather. 

Worcestershire skipper, Daryl Mitchell, was out for a duck after he struggled against his opposite Glen Chapple’s bowling and was caught by Simon Kerrigan. James Cameron was out shortly afterwards when he was trapped LBW by Kyle Hogg for 6. Opener Matthew Pardoe (37) was able to see Worcester past 50 but was unable to form a long partnership with Mooen Ali, before he was caught superbly by keeper Gareth Cross off Chapple. Vikram Solanki, who is scheduled to join Surrey next season, was also out off Chapple caught by Cross, scoring just 4 with the hosts on 68-4.

Star of the day, Neil Pinner, joined Moeen Ali to resist Lancashire either side of lunch, with the first rain delay of day two causing more unwanted delays. When play resumed Worcester advanced on their promising fifth-wicket partnership but Ali, who frustrated Lancashire with the ball in the reverse fixture taking match figures of 12-96, was only able to score 35, before he was out LBW to Hogg.

But a partnership between Neil Pinner and Joe Leach worth 111 was enough to frustrate Lancashire’s efforts after such a successful start. Pinner was out for no score in his only other first-class game, just over one year ago, but was able to prove to the critics that he has potential as a batsman. Fellow twenty-one-year-old, Joe Leach was bowled by Ajmal Shahzad as the home-side closed on a promising score of 219-6.

Worcestershire Vs. Lancashire: Day One Report

First day wash-out frustrates bottom two sides.

Giving that both hosts Worcester

and current champions Lancashire are experiencing a tough season, the bottom two

teams will certainly be frustrated by yet another rain interrupted fixture. New Road has previously experienced heavy flood problems and pictures from the ground from today are reminiscent of flooding in May when floods peaked at 4 Metres.

Despite the best efforts of the Worcestershire ground staff, the rain was persistent and heavy and prevented any play on the first day. When this match was played last season, Lancashire opener Stephen Moore left to join his family for the birth of his daughter Emilia and after poor form this year, averaging just 17 in the County Championship, Moore was dropped and replaced by the recently injured Luke Procter. Despite winning the County Championship last year, Worcestershire inflicted a heavy 10-wicket victory over Lancashire and a similarly comfortable 205-run victory earlier this season.   

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Lancs VS. Somerset LV County Championship report

Here are some pictures from Lancashire's 4-day game against Somerset. As you can see this was yet another LV County Championship match intervened by the weather, which prevented the enthralling final day from unfolding with all results still possible. After losing the toss, Lancashire were asked to bat first and reached 185 all out. The only highlight of this innings saw Ashwell Prince reach 51 before being caught behind in contentious style. In the scheme of the game however this first innings total was above average as the visitors Somerset replied with just 149.

Carrying a 36-run lead into the second innings, of a very low scoring game would prove priceless when Lancashire stumbled to 50-6. A valiant effort from Ashwell Prince (129) seemingly rendered the notion of defeat and helped Lancashire to set Somerset 279 to win. At the start of the final days play, Somerset were 22-1 and Lancashire were able to dismiss James Hildreth and captain, Marcus Trescothick, as all three results were all still possible around lunchtime.

But heavy lunchtime rain prevented any further play as both teams

experienced a frustrating wait to be told that play had been   abandoned. Both Lancashire and Somerset finished with 6 points from this game and neither side will have enjoyed yet another draw in a season that has been dominated by poor weather, in contrast to last year which was filled with the elation of Lancashire's title success.

Lancs Vs. Gloucs CB40

Brown sends Gladiators down as Lancashire go top.

Karl Brown's superb effort of 60, in conjunction with Paul Horton who scored 46, was just about enough to give Lancashire their sixth CB40 win, as Lancashire advance to the top of Group A. This televised fixture encompassed a mixture of brilliance in all three areas of the game for the home side and the Lightning are now top with two games in hand over second place (Middlesex).

Gloucestershire actually started the day in better style, winning the toss and hitting a four off the first ball of the innings. But this was only one of ten boundaries in an otherwise dire effort by Gloucester. Lancashire struck an early blow, when Rob Nicol chipped to Glen Chapple at mid-off for 6, with the score at 12-1. Chapple contributed once more as Benny Howell edged behind to Gareth Cross for 2, attempting a slog over mid-wicket at 25-2. Hamish Marshall (23) departed in a comical fashion when Oliver Newby trapped him LBW, subsequently causing him to fall over. After winning the toss, the visitors had stumbled to 35-3 and were forced to play boring and uneventful cricket to post a respectable total.

A partnership worth 47 between Dan Housego and Alex Gidman did go a long way towards the necessary recuperation, but the Gladiators were slow and Lancashire bowled very well. Gidman was bowled by Newby for 18 and Gary Keedy bowled Housego for 43, to undo a useful partnership. At 111-5, the situation was once more very dire for the Gladiators, but a partnership worth 42 between Ian Cockbain (58) and Chris Dent (27) brought hope in desperate circumstances. Dent's attempted slog was caught by Stephen Moore to give Shahzad his second wicket with Gloucester on 153-6 with only a few more overs to go.

Without the heroics of Ian Cockbain's 49-ball score of 58, who struck three consecutive sixes from the last over, Gloucestershire would have been in trouble but they were able to finish on a respectable total of 184-7. Cokbain attempted to hit the final delivery for yet another six but Parry was rewarded with his wicket as Cross stumped the unsuccessful slog. Wickets were evenly shared amongst Lancashire's bowlers, with the star performer being Newby who finished with 2-24.

The Lightning got off to a comfortable start with Stephen Moore (37) and Ashwell Prince (16) unfazed by opening bowlers Rob Nicol and James Fuller. They were able to finish the batting power play on 43 without losing a wicket but Prince shortly departed caught by Nicol off David Payne. Moore continued to bat confidently but the in-form Steven Croft top-edged an attempted sweep to Payne at backward square leg off Ed Young for just 3, as Lancashire stumbled to 52-2. Moore and new batsmen, Karl Brown, formed a useful partnership of 29, but their efforts were cut short by a fantastic catch from Cockbain when Moore flashed at Fuller's delivery.

Lancashire were in need of a stable partnership and they found it in Karl Brown (60) and Paul Horton (46) who made 82 for the fourth-wicket. Brown made his 50 from 62 balls and the home side soon needed less than 50 runs to win. Brown started to open up his boulders but as a result found himself caught at long on by Howell off Payne, with Lancashire still needing 22 runs for victory. Horton shortly followed his batting partner when he was trapped LBW to Fuller with pressure building as runs dried up.

Lancashire introduced Ajmal Shahzad with tensions rising, but he quelled any fears scoring 10 off 5 balls before he was bowled by Payne with Lancashire needing just 4 more runs to win. Keeper Gareth Cross (7*) and skipper Glen Chapple (2*) were able see Lancashire home to give them their sixth CB40 win of the campaign.

This victory sees Lancashire go top of Group A with games in hand over all of the teams that are close to them in the table. Brown was awarded the man of the match for his effort of 60 but a special mention must go to Horton who scored 46 under equally tough circumstances.