Lancashire LV Championship Division 1 at Old Trafford Draw 7 points Report

 

Day 4

DIVISION ONE STATUS SECURED

Only 15.1 overs were possible at Old Trafford today, as the game ended in a very soggy draw. The seven points that Notts obtained from the game ensured their Division One survival.

Morning showers meant that the start was delayed by 30 minutes with play commencing at 1100 with Paterson (Statham End) and Harrison sharing the bowling duties. In the 74th over, Paterson picked up his first wicket with Bailey (27) edging him to Clarke at first slip he took the catch moving to his left, 234 for 7. Harrison damaged his thumb and had to leave the field, with Montgomery taking over from him from the Pavilion End for the 77th over. A four through point by Blatherwick off Paterson saw Lancashire to 250 in the 78th over. The new ball was taken by Fernando and Hutton with Lancashire on 259 for 7 off 80 overs. A cover driven four by Hurst off Hutton saw him to his 50 on his first-class debut off 112 balls. 

Rain stopped play with Lancashire 272 for 7 off 84.1 overs with Hurst on 54 and Blatherwick on 18. A succession of heavy showers followed and the players never returned with play being called off 1415. Shortly after, a torrential downpour of biblical proportions descended on Old Trafford. MAG

Day 3

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS AT OLD TRAFFORD

Play finally got under way on day 3 at Old Trafford. After two extremely wet days in the North West, the sun came out first thing in the morning which meant play started on time this morning at 1030 on a day which could have contained 104 overs.

An unchanged Notts won the toss and inserted Lancashire. The first two sessions were played in pleasant warm sunshine. Then the dark clouds arrived at teatime after which only three overs were possible before the rain arrived. The players never returned and play was called off at 1700. Although the drizzle had stopped, there was insufficient time for the groundstaff to get the pitch playable again.

Hutton (Anderson End) and Fernando (Statham End) shared the new ball. The majority of crowd were sitting in the Pavilion which was very much a suntrap. Openers Jennings and Wells making steady progress against unthreatening bowling. Paterson replaced Fernando for the 8th over. A lofted straight driven boundary for Wells off Paterson saw Lancashire passed 50 in the 14th over. Fernando replaced Hutton for the 15th over. Mullaney came on for the 18th over. Fernando had been spraying down the leg side during his first spell, but his second spell was much better. He removed Wells' (28) middle stump, the left hander missing an attempted drive, 84 for 1 in the 21st over. In the following over, Jennings (42) fell leg before to Mullaney, 88 for 2. Jennings reluctant to leave, having thought he had edged the ball on to his pad.

In the 24th over, Bohannon (6) edged Mullaney and with Moores standing up, took the catch at the second attempt, 91 for 3. Lancashire had lost three wickets in 24 balls whilst adding seven runs. Paterson returned for the 27th over. An offside boundary for Bell off Mullaney saw Lancashire passed 100 in the 28th over. At lunch, Lancashire were 105 for 3 off 31 overs with Bell on 9 and Croft on 2.

Hutton and Paterson were bowling in tandem after lunch. Fernando replaced Paterson for the 39th over and a well pitched up delivery removed Bell's middle stump for 26, 132 for 4. In the 42nd over, Balderson (1) edged Hutton into Moores' gloves, 133 for 5. James replaced Hutton for the 46th over. Hurst was dropped at short mid wicket by Hameed when on 8 in the 53rd over, in the first over bowled by Harrison, an absolute sitter. Hurst on his first-class debut took advantage of the missed opportunity.

In his following over, Harrison removed Croft (45) smartly caught at short leg by Montgomery moving to his right, 181 for 6 in the 55th over. Bailey joined Hurst and they added an unbroken 44 in 14.4 overs before the premature close. Mullaney returned for the 56th over. A boundary for Hurst through mid wicket off Mullaney saw Lancashire to 200 in the 62nd over. Lancashire reached tea on 210 for 6 after 66 overs with Hurst on 30 and Bailey on 9.

Dark clouds arrived from the west during tea interval and the floodlights came on. Fernando replaced Mullaney from the Statham End immediately after tea. Bailey hit Harrison for 6 over mid wicket and at the end of the over rain stopped play at 1601 with Lancashire 225 for 6 off 69 overs with Hurst on 35 and Bailey on 19. The players never returned.

It had been a low key day with a very end of season feel. More showers are expected tomorrow as the match heads for a soggy draw. MAG

Day 2

NO PLAY ON DAY TWO

Day 1

NO PLAY TODAY

18/09

To the eleven that fought so hard in the last four sessions at Canterbury, add Matt Carter and Jake Ball.

Some will say that it's last chance saloon time for both Carter and Ball to have a sup and impress, but in true Trent Bridge style, that decision has (probably) already been made and we're being kept in the dark, as per usual..... I reckon.

As the weather forecasters refine their predictions, the actual weather on the days to come can only come as a pleasant surprise, hopefully, as it certainly can't be any worse than the five day forecasts were for Manchester yesterday.

There was certainly a lot of rain on my road in the small hours of this morning along with the thunder and lightning.

Squad: Ben Slater, Haseeb Hameed, Steven Mullaney c, Joe Clarke, Matt Montgomery, Tom Moores w, Lyndon James, Calvin Harrison, Brett Hutton, Asitha Fernando, Dane Paterson, Matt Carter, Jake Ball

Who will be number eleven, as there definitely is a wide selection to choose from?

What's up with Liam, a question that needs to be asked as he appears to be fit?

If you were looking downwards, then the Kent fixture at Taunton and the Middlesex game at Lord's against Warwickshire will also in your field of vision.

It would take a perfect storm to drop Notts into ninth spot after next week's round of matches:

• A Mick Newell September, where we barely pick up another point
• Near maximum points by both Middlesex and Kent (in both of their two last games), when Middlesex haven't gathered many batting bonus points all season so far (2). 4 wins in 4 matches between Middlesex and Kent, where they've collectively only managed 5 from 24 this season so far.
• Sufficient time to be played in all games to provide positive results and score enough runs as well. We have the remains of former Hurricane Lee sweeping across the north and north-west tomorrow, to start things off.

It would take a turn around in form and fortunes of conspiracy and collusional proportions to close Notts' 29 point buffer. The real battle for eighth position and safety lies between Kent and Middlesex. Northants would need the hand of God or the ECB to enter that mix.

17/09