Email Us Forum Mail Article Print Article

NCL1: Symonds Slaughters Lancs

Monday, June 7 2004

Kent 301 (A Symonds 146, M Walker 61; S Mahmood 4/42) defeated Lancashire 245 (S Law 51; Walker 3/28) by 56 runs.

Andrew Symonds continued Kent's strong start to the English summer by slamming 146 from just 110 balls from number 3 to set up a comprehensive win at Tunbridge Wells. Ably supported by Matt Walker's 61, Symonds cranked 17 boundaries and 4 sixes in his thundering stay. Only Sajid Mahmood left the field for Lancashire with his reputation enhanced, claiming 4/42 in a promising display.

Despite sending Dominic Cork out as an opener to throw the bat, Lancashire lost both openers early as number 3 Stuart Law threatened to bat his side back into the contest with a quick fire 51. The visitors middle order all made solid contributions yet failed to capitalize on their starts, affording Kent a comfortable victory. Matt Walker backed up his half century with 3 wickets, while Symonds and Ben Trott claimed 2 each.

Glamorgan 250 (R Croft 68, M Maynard 67; M Alleyne 3/52, J Lewis 3/53) defeated Gloucestershire 217 (M Windows 55, S Malik 52, S Ahmed 42; M Kasprowicz 2/23) by 33 runs.

Glamorgan gained a crucial 4 points at home thanks to a strong batting display and a tight afternoon of bowling. Winning the toss and batting, Robert Croft slammed 68 from just 45 deliveries to set a speedy platform for his middle order, in which Matthew Maynard contributed 67 before Shoaib Malik's tight spell in the middle over tied restricted the Welsh to 250.

Gloucestershire soon slumped to 3/27 in reply before half-centuries from Matt Windows and Shoaib Malik steadied the middle order. Yet while the spin duo of Croft and Dean Cosker took some stick, the seam battery headed by Michael Kasprowicz held firm, and despite Shabbir Ahmed's late fireworks, the Glamorgan side gained a comfortable result.

Essex 151 (B Phillips 3/28) lost to Northamptonshire (M van Jaarsveld 96*, T Roberts 47) by 8 wickets

After Ronnie Irani won the toss and elected to bat, Essex folded tamely to a spirited Northants attack led by Ben Phillips 3 wickets. Only James Middlebrook offered stern resistance with 38, and once Graeme Swann, Johann Louw and Steffan Jones had taken 2 wickets each, the visitors had succumb for just 151.

Despite losing a wicket in the second over, Northants cruised to the total as Tim Roberts fell just short of a third one day 50. Martin van Jaarsveld continued his impressive county start, finishing four short of a hundred as victory was gained with 12.4 overs to spare.

Hampshire 7/241 (J Crawley 68, D Mascarenhas 55, M Clarke 54, D Kenway 41; B Hogg 2/43) defeated Warwickshire 213 (Hogg 39; C Tremlett 4/37, S Udal 3/43) by 28 runs.

John Crawley's anchor knock of 68 from number 3 allowed a solid platform for Australian ODI player Michael Clarke and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas to blast Hampshire to a competitive total at the Rose Bowl. Mascarenhas in particular took full control, smashing a telling 55 from just 31 deliveries after being promoted in the order by captain Shane Warne. Dougie Brown and Brad Hogg each claimed 2 wickets in a below par bowling display from the four day pace setters.

In reply, Warwicks fell victim to the failure of any other their players to capitalize on a start, with 7 batsmen scoring above 20 but none topping Hogg's 39. Chris Tremlett impressed with four wickets, while the spin duo of Shaun Udal and Warne claimed 5 wickets between them.

Posted by Andre