Lancashire Lose In Final Tour Match.

Lancashire Lose In Final Tour Match.

Having already lost to Sussex in the twenty20 match last week, Lancashire suffered further frustration today when they lost in a 40 overs match by 23 runs. After Sussex managed a score of just 199-9, Lancashire were poised to obtain revenge, especially after the strong start they made in reply. But, they stumbled from 103-1, to 176 all out.

After 16 overs, the victors had reached 82-3, but they failed to capitalise on this start and only set Lancashire a total of 200 for victory. The early wickets came for Wayne White, who took five wickets in the two-day match versus Sussex, and Kyle Hogg (2).

By the 30th over, Sussex had floundered to a score of 132-8 and it seemed likely that they would fail to bat out their full allocation of overs. Lancashire’s inability to close the innings was, in hindsight, the cause of the loss, as Sussex were able to add 67 runs with the tail-end. Three wickets for Stephen Parry and Steven Croft were encouraging, but the efforts of Ben Brown with the bat frustrated Lancashire, as he was able to hit a late 50, in a stand worth 56 runs for the last wicket.

At the time this seemed to be an acceptable, yet frustrating target for Lancashire and thanks to the efforts of Stephen Moore (50) and Croft (69), the Lightning made an impressive start to the pursuit of 200.

But rather disappointingly, they were unable to see through the chase that had started so well, as they lost 5 wickets for 34 runs, thanks to the work of left-arm chinaman bowler, Michael Rippon who ended up with figures of 6-27. There was no respite for Lancashire who continued to lose their hold over their impressive start and, eventually, the game was concluded, with a 23 run victory for Sussex.

White Claims Five-Wicket-Haul as Lancashire Dominate Second Day.

White Claims Five-Wicket-Haul as Lancashire Dominate Second Day.

Lancashire had a mixed first day against Sussex in this two-day fixture, but it is fair to say that the second days play belonged to them. After achieving 301-12 from 91 overs, they managed to restrict the opposition 259-11, giving them the

advantage from this friendly fixture. Most

prominently however, winter signing, Wayne White is proving to have been a valuable addition to the team, as he claimed 5 wickets.

Sussex suffered an early blip, when Luke Wells was caught by Stephen Moore off the bowling of Kyle Hogg, scoring just one run. After scoring 76 runs in the twenty20 fixture, Chris Nash utilised the confidence he has acquired from these pre-season fixtures and hit a half century, before he was caught by White, giving Stephen Parry his first wicket.

Michael Yardy was then trapped LBW by Steven Croft for 21, just before the lunchtime interval. At lunch, Sussex were 90-3, with Ed Joyce on 9 and Rory Hamilton-Brown with 1.

Sussex collapsed in the afternoon session, adding 80 runs, for the loss of 5 more wickets, with White claiming 3 for 5 runs in just 4 overs. After loosing their first 10 wickets, Sussex had reached 189, in which White obtained his five-wicket-haul.

At close of play on day two, Sussex had scored 259-11 from 90 overs. Lancashire wickets were taken by: White 5/34; Parry 2/57; Croft 1/20 and Hogg 2/18.

The teams play each other in a 40 overs match tomorrow, where Lancashire will be hoping for a greater challenge than they were presented with when they played the MCC Universities. 

Horton Shines on First Day of Sussex Match.

Horton Shines on First Day of Sussex Match.

Lancashire enjoyed a somewhat peculiar days

play in Dubai today, as they started the first

day of the two day match against Sussex. Both

teams are required to bat the full 90 overs of

each day, regardless of how many wickets fall,

providing both sides with an opportunity to

get in some much needed training. After two

Twenty20 fixtures and a 40 over match,

Lancashire were keen to practice batting for the

longest form of the game, as the start of the

Championship campaign beckons.

Lancashire were set to bat first, after loosing the toss, with Paul Horton and Luke Procter in charge. The former did experience a poor start to this game, when he was caught at second slip off the bowling of Miller for just 4, but the nature of this game provided him with the potential to redeem himself. At the second time of asking he enjoyed an innings of 83 off 123 balls, which will have instilled him with the confidence he hoped to gain from his first attempt.

Stephen Moore had an almost identical day, failing to impress in the first innings and following-up with 46 with his second attempt, as he and Horton shared a partnership of 95 runs inside 14 overs, for the twelfth wicket.

The standard ten-wicket structure was undeniably disappointing, as Lancashire reached 168-10 at tea, with the only real success coming from Luke Procter who made 43 from 78 deliveries.

Lancashire finished on 301 for the loss of 12 wickets, which was largely due to the late onslaught from Horton and Moore, with the latter hitting three sixes before he was dismissed.

Although Sussex possess the strongest position at the end of the day, Lancashire’s batsmen were able to get some essential time at the crease and regardless of the result tomorrow, this is sure to be the aim of the bowlers as well.

Smith Scores Century In Lancashire’s First Victory On Tour.

Smith Scores Century In Lancashire’s First Victory On Tour.

Lancashire’s efforts in the first two

matches will have raised some

questions already and today’s game,

against the MCC Universities, in a 40

overs match, provided them with an

excellent opportunity to silence the

critics. Steven Croft was rested and so

Paul Horton took the captains duties,

as well as the opening batsmen’s role,

alongside Tom Smith. Unfortunately

for Horton, he was only able to succeed

in the former role, by winning the toss and electing to bat first, as he was out caught behind after managing to score just one run.

Thankfully though, Lancashire were able to get over this early set back and, now joined by Karl Brown, Smith set about commencing the first milestone of Lancashire’s season. At the half way stage, Smith had moved to 56 and his partner had mustered 40, with Lancashire on 107-1. Smith and Brown shared 105 runs for the second wicket partnership.

After reaching the Lightning’s first 50 of the season, Smith went one better, by reaching the first century, in an innings of 103 from 90 balls, with 10 fours and 2 sixes. Lancashire wicket-keeper, Gareth Cross, came close to a century of his own, scoring 81 from 60 balls, with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Smith and Cross put on 82 runs for the third wicket, before Smith fell, but he was aptly replaced by Kyle Hogg, who hit the ball equally as well. Cross and Hogg smashed 79 runs in six overs, with Lancashire achieving a run rate of virtually ten runs per over, for the last 10 overs of their innings, as they finished on 278-5.

In response, the MCC Universities started well, managing to avoid loosing any wickets early on in the innings, unlike their opponents. After 15 overs they were on 63-0, an impressive total that frustrated Lancashire. But the chase soon collapsed, with Stephen Parry claiming two quick wickets and Oliver Newby picking up one of his own. After 24 overs, MCC were 95-3, still requiring 184 runs for victory. But runs failed to come quick enough and another wicket for Newby and a run out saw the MCC Universities reach 148-5 after 31 overs.  Further wickets came for Kyle Hogg and Andrea Agathangelou, helped Lancashire to mount pressure on their opponents, who continued to battle against the odds. Nonetheless, Lancashire’s efforts with the bat had left the oppositions with too great a task and after 40 overs the MCC Universities score of 213-7 was insufficient, giving Lancashire a 65 run victory.

Lancashire were expected to win this game, but there is no way you can doubt the quality and tenacity that the favorites showed after consecutive defeats to Sussex and the Fly Emirates XI. Tom Smith and Gareth Cross certainly gave the Lightning their victory today, after Lancashire failed to bowl out the MCC. This is something that will hopefully improve and certainly be tested, when Lancashire play Sussex in a two day match, starting on Monday, where Lancashire will be looking to avenge their performance in the T20 match.  

Lancashire Lose To Tournament Hosts.

Lancashire Lose To Tournament Hosts.

After yesterdays performance, Lancashire were keen to make amends, but this was initially out of their control as their opponents, Fly Emirates, won the toss and chose to put Lancashire into bat first. Agathangelou’s fantastic performance vs. Sussex of 42 runs, saw him replaced by Tom Smith at the top of the order and the Lightning got off to a much more impressive start this time around. Stephen Moore not only avoided a golden duck but assisted by Smith, he helped Lancashire to reach 36 before losing their first wicket. Initially dropped on 12, Moore was eventually caught at mid-off, from Syed’s bowling, in the 6th over. Smith (22) was then bowled by Syed, who claimed his second wicket in three balls, to leave Lancashire 41-2.

With Steven Croft and Karl Brown now at the crease, Lancashire were nicely poised to make a total that was more impressive than the 118-9 from yesterday’s match. The Lightning managed to acquire a further 16 runs, before Brown was bowled by Khan, after smashing him for six the previous ball. Paul Horton joined captain Croft, but when he was stumped Lancashire had stumbled to 68-4. Keeper, Gareth Cross and Croft managed to form a partnership of 31, including some big hitting from the former, who swept a huge six to the square-leg boundary. But Cross fell later in the same over for 18, with the score at 99-5 and just over 2 overs to play.

10 runs on and Croft was dismissed for 29 when he was bowled by Sikander’s spin, with 9 balls left. It seemed as though Lancashire were going to replicate yesterday’s batting performance, by achieving less than a run a ball over the course of their 20 overs. After Luke Procter and Kyle Hogg were dismissed Lancashire were on an unquestionably average score of 116-8, with just 3 balls left in the innings. But the surprise efforts of spin bowler, Stephen Parry, gave Lancashire’s batting a much needed, albeit late boost, as he scored 10 off the last two balls, to give Lancashire a score of 128-8.

Rahul and Javad opened the response, as the Fly Emirates XI attempted to chase 129 runs. Much like Sussex, the opponents seemed a much stronger batting side, which was emphasised by the score of 42-0 after 5 overs. The introduction of Tom Smith into the bowling attack gave Lancashire their first breakthrough at 47-1, when Javad tried to hook the ball and was subsequently caught behind, edging to Gareth Cross. Once the Lightning took the first wicket, their seemed to be a different air on the pitch which was helped further when Rahul was run out by Stephen Moore, with just one more run added to the total. Smith then claimed another wicket at 56-3, when he cleanly bowled Khan and at the half way stage, the Lightning were looking the better side.

The Fly Emirates XI added to their total, slowly but surely, loosing another wicket on 86, as Luke Procter took a fantastic catch off the bowling of Wayne White. It looked as if Lancashire were turning the screw, but the Emirates were able to build a solid 5th wicket partnership, which saw them past 100 and in to the latter stages of the innings. Needing 21 from the final 3 overs, both teams had the potential to win, but with 6 wickets in hand, Lancashire were now second favorites. Unlike yesterday, the Lighting took the game to the final over, where Croft was able to find a run out, taking the game to the penultimate delivery, but they could not prevent the Emirates from earning a five-wicket victory.

Having lost this match, the semi-final, Lancashire will not feature in the final, which is due to take place this afternoon between the Fly Emirates XI and Sussex. They will however play the MCC Young Cricketers tomorrow morning, in a 40 overs match, where Lancashire will be hoping to improve on their recent performances as the start of the season continues to draw closer.