Lancashire Vs. Northamptonshire LVCC day two.

Lancashire complete valuable victory.

After bowling their opponents out for just 62 in the first innings, Lancashire were able to attain an eight-wicket victory over Northants, successfully chasing-down the minor total of 73 they had been set.

Lancashire added 38 to their first innings total, giving them a lead of 97, and when the visitors failed to mount a response they suffered a heavy defeat. Entering this encounter, these teams were the only unbeaten teams in the second division and now the Red Rose county are the only team who claim this achievement. 

Managing just 169 in their second innings, Lancashire chased down the target easily, putting them in a great position to snatch first place from Northants.

Andrew Hall and David Murphy were the only players to resist Lancashire, with both reaching fifties, but the damage they had suffered had limited their chances of escaping humiliation.

Luke Procter proved that Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg were not the only bowlers capable of taking wickets, as he took 4-39 in the process. The formerly mentioned pace-bowlers were however responsible for the start Lancashire made, with the opponents 35-4, but the resistance finally broke the unchanged formula of Chapple and Hogg.

Ashwell Prince led Lancashire's chase with 38, but it was Luis Reece (22) and Simon Katich (1) who saw their team over the line.

Photos from day one of Northants match.

Luis Reece was playing in his second match for Lancashire

Simon Katich was the in-form
player coming into the game.

Ashwell Prince has ale be important.

Tom Smith was playing in his first
championship match this year.

Kyle Hogg celebrates his first of seven wickets.

Chapple makes an LBW shout.

Hogg and Chapple celebrate together.

Simon Kerrigan fielding.

James Middlebrook bowled cleanly!

But not as cleanly as former Lancashire man Steven Crook. 

Kyle Hogg is applauded by the players for his career-best figures.

Luis Reece is bowled for 16.

Katich's score of 30 was the highest of the day.

Willey has an LBW shout turned down.

Smith scored 16 not out.

Steven Crook had a mixed
return to Lancashire.

Lancashire Vs. Northamptonshire LVCC day one.

Hogg claims career-best figures in title clash.

Hogg took 7-27, a best for the pace-bowler, as
Northants were out for 62.

It was a day to savour for the bowlers at Emirates Old Trafford, with eighteen wickets falling inside the first day of play. Kyle Hogg shined for Lancashire, attaining career-best figures of 7-27, as Northamptonshire were bowled out for just 62.

Lancashire found batting similarly difficult, scoring 121-8, but finished proceedings with a lead of 59, which may prove to be vital in such a low-scoring contest.

Glen Chapple’s decision to bowl first was proven to be the correct one, as he and Hogg continued to lead the bowling attack, following their success at Essex.  Chapple took the first wicket of the day after just four balls, dismissing Kyle Coezter for a duck.

Hogg claimed his first of seven wickets by removing David Sales shortly afterwards and wickets continued to fall for the rest of the day. At 9-3, a repeat of 20 all out was still possible, but the visitors resisted enough to avoid this embarrassment.

However, there score was far from outstanding, with former Lancashire player, Steven Crook offering the highest score of the innings with 16. He and Andrew Hall (10) were anomalies in an otherwise dismal effort, with Hogg removing both batsmen.

Chapple finished with 3-34, dismissing Graeme White for nought, but it was Hogg who put Northants out of their misery, cleanly bowling Mohammad Azharullah. Lancashire’s last twenty wickets have afforded just 82 runs and they will be hoping for this to continue in the second innings.

Lancashire were able to overtake the meagre total set by their guests with seven wickets in hand, thanks to a 44-run stand between Simon Katich and Andrea Agathangelou (21), with the formers score of 30 being the highest of the day.

Things were not always easy however, as Lancashire lost Luke Procter and Ashwell Prince cheaply, leaving them 22-2. Playing in only his second first-class match for Lancashire, Luis Reece managed 16 before he was bowled by David Willey (2-26).

When the fourth-wicket stand was eventually broken though both men fell with the score on 85, with Lancashire leading by a mere 23 runs. Crook then removed Gareth Cross and Glen Chapple cheaply as he ended the day with figures of 2-39 and at 101-8 Lancashire found themselves in a difficult position despite the lead they had acquired.

An unbeaten stand between Tom Smith (14*) and Stephen Parry (9*) saw Lancashire through to the end of a bowler-conducive day, with the hosts marginally on top.

Lancashire coach, Peter Moores was keen to commend the Lancashire bowlers saying “Chappie and Hogg bowled brilliantly”. Hogg in particular proved to be vital today, beating his previous best figures of 7-28 versus Hampshire in 2011.

He added that “conditions were ideal for bowling this morning, hence the decision to field first, and we were therefore pleased to win the toss”.

Northamptonshire LVCC preview.

Lancs set for top-of-the-table clash.

Simon Katich is the in-form player
for Lancashire.

Lancashire's promotion bid faces its toughest challenge so far tomorrow, as they take on Northants at Emirates Old Trafford. The Red Rose county have named a 13-man squad for this fixture which sees the inclusion of Tom Smith for the first time this season.

Lancashire 13-man squad: Chapple, Agathangelou, Croft, Cross, Hogg, Katich, Kerrigan, Parry, Prince, Procter, Reece, Smith, White.

Once again Karl Brown misses out to accommodate Luis Reece, but Brown is set to captain the second XI's as they face Yorkshire this week.

It is fair to say that the events of last week at Essex will have given Lancashire confidence, but the importance of this fixture will have given them a reality check.

Lancashire will take confidence from the form that a number of the players are currently enjoying - particularly Simon Katich, who hit 122 versus Essex, in Lancashire's innings and 110-run victory.

Ashwell Prince will also be a key figure after he hit 98 not out versus Scotland in the YB40 campaign. With the ball, the skipper Glen Chapple will be as vital as ever, alongside his partner Kyle Hogg, who helped him to bowl Essex out for 20 last Friday.

Northants have had an amazing start to the four-day competition, currently presiding in first place, 33 points ahead of Lancashire. Like Lancashire they are unbeaten in division two, but they have won one more match and attained more bonus points in batting and bowling.

Former Lancashire player, Steven Crook, has been in fine form this season, having taken 29 wickets and hitting three fifties, and he sees this encounter as a 'cup-final' for Northants.

Lancashire will also be fearful of Trent Copeland, who has taken 36 wicket at an average of 16.25. They will need to be careful of Northamptonshire's dense batting line-up, which has no real weakness in the context of the second division.

Prediction: Draw: This will be a tough match for both sides. Both are eager to win and are therefore likely to ensure that they do not lose. Old Trafford generally offers a bit for batsmen and bowlers but the side batting first should enjoy the share of the game. It is likely that both teams will mount a respectable first innings total, but enough time will be taken out of the match that neither side loses.

Photos from Scotland YB40 match.

Frederick Coleman hit 63 for Scotland.

Lancashire came very close to getting an early run out.

Stephen Parry performing some excellent fielding.

Coleman celebrates fifty.

Parry bowling to MacLeod who hit 55 for the visitors.

Coleman hit 4 fours in his innings.

Scotland skipper, Preston Mommsen,
was eager to score faster.

Steven Croft catches MacLeod. 

Matthew Cross is bowled by Kabir Ali.

Stephen Moore helped Lancashire to
get-off to a fast start.

He and Prince were in fine form.

Stephen Moore hit 6 fours and 1 six

They achieved the highest
opening stand of the campaign so far.

Moore launches a six.

Moore celebrates a well-deserved fifty.

Moore sweeps the spinners.

Prince followed with his own fifty.

Brown supported Prince with 24.

Prince and Tom Smith saw Lancashire home.

Lancashire Vs. Scotland YB40.

Prince innings gives Lancashire valuable victory.

Ashwell Prince scores 98 as he guides Lancashire to victory.

Scotland's effort of 217-9 always seemed under par and when Lancashire attained victory with 21 balls to spare this fear was proven to be apt. Ashwell Prince led Lancashire's chase, falling two runs shy of a century. 

Lancashire were able to restrict their Scottish opponents, thanks in large to Wayne White, who achieved figures of 4-38. Scotland have now played seven YB40 matches and lost all them, putting any mathematical chances of progression to the semi-finals beyond doubt.

But things where not always easy for the Lightning, with Scotland managing to reach 147-2 at one stage. Frederick Coleman top-scored for Scotland with 63 and mounted a 90-run stand with Calum MacLeod (55).

Scotland's success continued through their captain, Preston Mommsen, who added a fast-hit 46 to prolong Lancashire's misery. 

Although many will not regard what happened next as a collapse, mainly after the events of Essex, Scotland would forfeit their magnificent start, losing five wickets for the addition of nine runs.

In response Lancashire were belligerent, with Stephen Moore taking the early initiative in the powerplay overs. In the highest opening partnership of the season in this campaign, Lancashire scored 105 before the loss of their first wicket, giving them a platform to win the match.

Moore reached his half-century from 51 balls and, given his stint in form, this was welcomed by all Lancashire fans who will have half an eye on his role in the Twenty 20 format. His removal gave Moneeb Iqbal his first of two wickets, with the second being that of Steven Croft (7) whose form continues to worry the Lancashire faithful. 

Karl Brown supported Prince as the latter passed fifty, with the Lightning closing in on the meagre target they had been set. Brown's return to the team saw him score 24 before Majeed Haq removed the 25-year-old.

Lancashire started to make the chase harder than necessary but, accompanied by Tom Smith (19*)

, Prince was able to see Lancashire home. The South-African opener really deserved a century, but a no-ball that went for four byes would deprive him of this feat. In a bizarre finale the players were uncertain of whether or not the match had finished, but indeed it had, with Lancashire emerging victorious.

Lancashire 2pts,  Scotland 0 pts.

Scotland YB40 preview.

Lancashire have named a 14-man squad for the visit of the Scottish Saltires:

Tom Smith will be keen to make progress after his
return from injury.

Lancashire Lightning squad: Glen Chapple (captain), Karl Brown, Jordan Clark, Steven Croft, Gareth Cross, Kabir Ali, Simon Katich, Simon Kerrigan, Stephen Moore, Stephen Parry, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Tom Smith, Wayne White.

Scottish Saltires squad: Preston Mommsen (captain), Richie Berrington, Calvin Burnett, Neil Carter, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross, Gordon Goudie, Majid Haq, Moneeb Iqbal, Tom Latham, Michael Leask, Calum Macleod, Ruaidhri Smith.

After the incredible trip to Essex, Lancashire's confidence is at an incredibly high level and this will bode well for them today in a must-win game against Scotland.

The Saltires currently sit bottom of Group B, having played six matches and lost all of them.

With that in mind, Lancashire's chances for qualification will surely be enhanced by the fact that they have to play Scotland twice, when other sides, perhaps, have tougher matches to play.

If Lancashire win today and other results go their way, then they will go top of their group, putting added importance on this fixture to go the right way for the home side. However, in their last three visits to Lancashire, Scotland have won every time, making the result inconclusive.

Photos from Essex YB40 match.

Tom Smith warms-up on return from his injury.

Stephen Moore scored just 11.

Ashwell Prince scored a useful 31.

But Katich top-scored with 60.

His six broke a pavilion window!

He came close to being run out.

Tom Smith scored only seven on his
return to the team.

Jordan Clark also found it hard managing just nine.

Katich reached fifty in 52 balls.

James Foster taking a difficult delivery.

Gareth Cross added a useful 29.

Katich had muted celebrations about his fifty.

Kabir Ali added 20.

Glen Chapple managed 22.

And Stephen Parry scored 14.

Chapple claims Westley LBW.

And then Pettini who edged to Tom Smith at first slip.

Hamish Rutherford was the key man for Essex.

He hit 4 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 63.

Owais Shah also had a good day scoring 30.

Jordan Clark comes close to taking a stunning catch.

Gareth Cross matched Foster in athleticism!

Shah sweeps for four off Simon Kerrigan.

But was shortly out LBW to Chapple.

Parry takes a brilliant catch to dismiss
Jaik Mickelburgh.

Lancashire celebrate their 64-run victory as ex-Lancs player, Sajid Mahmood is left not out.