| Scorecard: | Lancashire v Sussex |
Summary for Day 4
Lancashire head south east to play Nottingham in search of their fourth consecutive win and another 22 points, following a comprehensive innings victory over their nearest rivals - Sussex. Even then, the red rose county is not guaranteed to claim the championship. Sussex play at home to Leicestershire only requiring 7 points to claim first place. (Ironically, the top 3 teams play the bottom 3 teams in the last round of matches).During the first hours play, Sussex added just 40 runs from 17 overs. The crowd remained very quite and no chances were forthcoming. In a similar manner to that of Sussex's first innings, 3 wickets suddenly fell in the space of 35 balls, to leave the visitors on 73 for 5. Although the last 5 wicket partnerships all reached double figures (Highest 29), Sussex fell short of making Lancashire bat again. Hegg cleverly alternated his bowlers and set very attacking fields. At the same time Sussex's players failed to handle the pressure. Lancashire completed their 3 consecutive victory to move into second place in the table - 6 points ahead of Surrey, but 16 points adrift of Sussex. What a pity Lancashire narrowly failed to hang on for a draw at Hove!
Bowling Performance of the Day Gary Keedy captured another 5 wickets for 61 runs from 32 overs. He dismissed Cottey (32) Prior (10), Goodwin (57, and Davis (11). He varied his length and flight to outwit most of his victims. Keedy finished with 10 wickets in the match for 167 runs @ 16.70. John Wood removed Chris Adams and Tim Ambrose for the second time in the game to finish with 2 for 27 (Match 5 for 44). Peter Martin claimed the wickets of Montgomerie (3rd day) and Martin-Jenkins to finish with figures of 2 for 43. Chris Schofield claimed Sussex's other wicket - Mushtaq Ahmed neatly caught and bowled for 16
Batting Performance of the Day
Sussex batted themselves into a corner by trying to bat time rather than accumulate runs. Adams scored 35 runs from 73 balls in 100 minutes. Cottey scored one boundary in his 32 runs from 80 balls in 85 minutes. Only Murray Goodwin with another 57 runs to add to his 118 not out applied himself at the crease (6 x 4 from 119 balls)
Fielding Performance of the Day
Lancashire set exciting and attacking fields throughout the day. Hegg never removed the close fielders at anytime. Sutcliffe held two catches at short leg and Haynes 1 catch in close on the off side. Prior chipped the ball tamely to Schofield at mid-on, while Adams failed to keep the ball down when facing a rising delivery from John Wood. Stuart Law held the catch at point. Lancashire's ground fielding was tidy but 3 chances were missed
Highlights of the Day
- Completing a comprehensive victory by 3.17pm - Ironically enough, just over 24 hours previous, Sussex were 122 for 1! Sussex lost their last 19 wickets for just 309 runs @ 16.26
- Keeping the title race alive until the final game of the season
- Keedy's sensational bowling analysis for the game
- Only conceding 2 extras - both leg-byes
Lowlights of the Day
- Three missed chances in the field (2 catches and 1 stumping)
- Not taking a wicket during he first hours play
- Not having the services of Glen Chapple during the entire days play - injured foot
Contentious Discussion Point of the Day
Murray Goodwin was not impressed by the umpires decision to give him out leg before wicket in the 74th over. Goodwin (57) did not walk from the crease immediately. He held his pose at crease allowing the umpire to take a second look. Goodwin believed he was too far down the wicket
Key Notes of the Day
- 50 for 2 in the 22nd over - Adams 32* Cottey 15*
- Adams caught Law bowled Wood 35 - 61 for 3 in the 29th over - Cottey 23*
- Ambrose caught Sutcliffe bowled Wood 2 - 67 for 4 in the 31st over - Cottey 27*
- Cottey caught sub (Haynes) bowled Keedy 32 - 73 for 5 in the 34th over - Goodwin 1*
- Martin-Jenkins 3 dropped by Hooper at first slip - 86 for 5 in the 43rd over - Goodwin 11*
- Lunch - 89 for 5 from 45 overs - Goodwin 13* Martin-Jenkins 4*
- Martin-Jenkins bowled Martin 6 - 96 for 6 in the 49th over - Goodwin 18*
- 100 for 6 in the 49th over - Goodwin 18* Prior 4*
- Goodwin 32 dropped by Law at first slip - 120 for 6 in the 60th over - Prior 10*
- Goodwin 33 missed stumping by Hegg - 121 for 6 in the 61st over - Prior 10*
- Prior caught Schofield bowled Keedy 10 - 125 for 7 in the 62nd over - Goodwin 37*
- 50 Goodwin from 107 balls (6 x 4) - 140 for 7 in the 68th over - Davis 0*
- Goodwin lbw bowled Keedy 57 - 146 for 8 in the 74th over - Davis 1*
- 151 for 8 in the 75th over - Mushtaq Ahmed 5* Davis 1*
- Mushtaq caught & bowled Schofield 16 - 164 for 9 in the 82nd over - Davis 2*
- 3.10pm - tea not taken - 170 for 9 from 84 overs - Davis 5* Lewry 3*
- Davis caught Sutcliffe bowled Keedy 11 - 180 all out from 87 overs - Lewry 7*
- Lancashire 22 points beat Sussex 4 points by an innings and 19 runs - 3.17pm
Lancashire Man of the Match
Lancashire's hero was Gary Keedy. His final match analysis was 10 for 167 (5 for 106 and 5 for 61). Keedy has captured 59 wickets this season - a truly great effort considering he missed a couple of matches in the middle of the campaign
(Article: Copyright © 2004 Neil Adams http://www.cricketimages.co.uk/adams-report/intro.html)
