| Scorecard: | Sussex v Lancashire |
In less than ideal conditions, Sussex won the toss and elected to bowl first. The cloud cover was reasonably heavy and occasional light rain could be detected in the air. The visitors moved along at 4 runs per over by the end of 7 overs. Suddenly in the 8th over, Sutcliffe's attempted stroke over mid-wicket gained a leading edge and flew high into the air. He was neatly caught by Luke Wright fielding at cover for 16 (28-1).
Both Mal Loye and Stuart Law faced difficult variable bounce in the following 10 overs. It was already apparently clear that a score above 250 would be extremely challenging. Law was caught at the wicket by Prior in the 17th over for 19 (68-2) - a very fine edge. Mal Loye passed 50 in the 27th over from 80 balls - a very contrasting knock compared to some of his totesport innings this season. Mushtaq Ahmed, who picked up a leg injury when chasing a ball earlier in Lancashire's innings removed Loye for 54 in the 28th over - leg before wicket (117-3). Mushtaq was clearly hampered by his injury. His run up was laboured, and his ability to field from his own bowling bordering the farcical. However, the umpires should have made Mushtaq stay on the field when he completed his 10 over spell rather than being dictated to and manipulated by Chris Adams.
Andrew Flintoff, making his first appearance for Lancashire this season combined well with Mark Chilton during the next 14 overs. The contrasting styles of both players realized a partnership of 74 runs, with Flintoff smashing 2 big sixes. Chilton reached his 50 from 66 balls in the 41st over (185-3). In Mushtaq's 8th over, Flintoff (35) played across the line was adjudged leg before wicket (191-4). In the 46th over, Chilton's attempted thin cut to third man was well held by the diving Prior (216-5). Hooper maintained Lancashire's late run chase by hitting 2 sixes, while the unfortunate Chapple (7) fell victim of a television run out courtesy of the third umpire (223-6). Hegg (2) skied a simple catch to Prior in the penultimate over (236-7). Lancashire only added 3 runs in the final over as Hogg played and missed 3 successive times to the bowling of Kirtley - 242 for 7 from 50 overs.
Steven Crook replaced Carl Hooper in the field for Sussex's innings after sustaining an injury to his hand while batting. Sussex's initial asking rate was 4.86 and a solid platform was a prerequisite of progression to the quarter-final. Sussex suffered a major set back after only two deliveries of James Anderson's opening over. Ian Ward was hit on the hand by a fast rising ball and was forced to retire hurt. Arguably, Glen Chapple's opening 3 overs were the most inaccurate compilation of deliveries imaginable. Endless wides either side of the wicket combined with very uncharacteristic untesting deliveries. Quite incredibly, Chapple seemed to take a wicket each time he placed the ball in the right place. Montgomerie (0) was held by Law at first slip with Chapple's sixth ball (10-1). Goodwin (0) was brilliantly caught by Chilton at square leg. Lancashire's batting hero diving backwards to take an outstanding one handed catch (16-2). Sussex's nightmare start was completed in the 6th over when Law held his second catch of the innings to dismiss Matt Prior for 8 (20-3).
Chris Adams and Michael Yardy were left with little choice but to rebuild the hosts innings. In the face of some excellent hostile bowling, Sussex's asking rate quickly increased above 6 per over. Chris Adams survived a drop by Flintoff at second slip with just 8 runs to his name. Stuart Law repeated the drop (At first slip) in the 32nd over with Adams unbeaten on 36. Lancashire's catching is clearly their Achilles-heel this season. At least Mark Chilton held Michael Yardy (27) at second slip in the 24th over (84-4). Soon after Adams passed 50, Sajid Mahmood bowled the Sussex captain with a ball which kept slightly low (147-5). Adams faced 96 balls for his 51 runs - a demonstration of the difficulty of accumulating runs on an awkward pitch. Luke Wright blasted a quick-fire 21 from 19 balls before being bowled by Flintoff in the 45th over. Perhaps the low flying helicopter hovering above the ground at the time put him off (189-6). Murray Goodwin acted as a runner for Mushtaq Ahmed before the latter lost his off stump in the 46th over to the inhospitable Mahmood. Quite surprisingly, there was no sign of a limp as Mushtaq returned to the pavilion in front of his runner! (192-7)
Ian Ward returned to the crease at the fall of the 7th wicket. His stay was very brief - one ball to be precise. He fended the ball to Stuart Law at point and attempted a quick single. Law's direct throw left Ward (2) well short of his ground (192-8). In the following over Mohammed Akram (1) was also run out. Flintoff following through from his own bowling, hit Akram's stumps as he attempted a foolish run (199-9). Meanwhile, Martin-Jenkins had passed 50 from just 65 balls. Together with James Kirtley, the pair added 31 runs before the overs were completed. Even then, Iain Sutcliffe managed to drop a straight forward catch to long-off in the final over. Hegg, who sustained a finger injury in the 49th over was replaced behind the stumps by Mal Loye but should be fit enough to play against Kent on Wednesday. Coach Mike Watkinson acted as thirteenth man for the final few balls.
Overall this was a first class performance in difficult conditions. In the next round Lancashire have been drawn at home to play against nearest rivals Yorkshire.
(Article: Copyright © 2004 Neil Adams http://www.cricketimages.co.uk/adams-report/intro.html)