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Worcestershire - by a squeak

Sunday, August 10 2003

A quite sensational final over by Andrew Hall helped Worcestershire to squeeze past Lancashire by 6 runs in a fabulous game at New Road today.

Lancashire won the toss and elected to field on another glorious summers day at New Road. At stake was a place in the C&G Final at Lord's to do battle with Gloucestershire, conquerors of Derbyshire by the narrowest of margins earlier in the week.

Peter Martin opened with a wide down the leg side before both Vikram Solanki and Anurag Singh successfully opened their accounts with nudged singles. He shared the new ball with James Anderson who struck almost immediately, dropping short to Solanki who aimed to pull. The ball was on him a little quickly and sailed high, straight to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg who held on to the steepling chance with the total on just 4.

Graeme Hick started with an elegant late cut to the point boundary off the bowling of Martin before Singh nudged one off his hip to fine leg off the same bowler who responded well by beating the India-born batsman with late movement off the seam.

An excellent over from Anderson to Singh saw the batsman coming down late to keep out two yorkers as Worcestershire progressed carefully to 32-1 after 10 overs. Hick unleashed a hook, one bounce over the ropes, and followed it up with an expansive drive through extra cover to move into the twenties.

Glen Chapple, named in the England squad today, replaced Anderson but his second ball was simply despatched to the cover boundary in fine style by Singh, and his ragged start continued when Hick cut a rank long-hop for four.

A risky single by Singh brought up the 50 in the 13th over, and a few balls later another questionable run almost brought the demise of Hick for the second time but Mark Chilton again missed the stumps from midwicket.

John Wood found the edge of Hick's bat but the bowler's cry of frustration said it all - the delivery before, Stuart Law had been moved from second slip and instead of the prize wicket, all the bowler had to show for his efforts were four more runs in the debit column.

Chapple's line and length improved greatly and he troubled Singh repeatedly, beating him four times in a single maiden over, but at the other end, Wood dropped fractionally short and Hick was on it in a flash, caressing the ball through midwicket with the minimum of effort.

Singh bludgeoned Wood through the off side as Lancashire seemed unable to exert any real pressure from both ends at the same time. Chapple beat Hick outside off stump with a beauty but the following delivery was over-pitched and the ball whistled through midwicket for another scintillating boundary. At the end of the 20th over, Worcestershire were well set on 83-1.

Andrew Flintoff's spell opened with a high full toss which resulted in the England all-rounder receiving a stern warning from umpire John Hampshire

Hick moved to fifty in fortunate fashion as Chapple finally found the edge after repeatedly beating the defensive push, only for Warren Hegg to put down the difficult chance. To add insult to injury, Hick then drove majestically past the bowler for yet another boundary

Singh threw everything at a wide delivery from Flintoff and the resultant edge flew over slip to bring the score to three figures, then Hick pulled the lethargic-looking bowler through midwicket to raise the hundred partnership.

The gentle off-break bowling of Carl Hooper was introduced in the 25th over and he started in promising manner, beating the defensive prod of Hick with prodigious turn on the bone-dry track. Singh, however, countered with the sweep as the scoring rate continued to accelerate. Peter Martin was recalled in an effort to stifle the runs

Anurag Singh went to his own half-century in fine style with a wristy cut off the bowling of Hooper for his sixth boundary and at 122-1 after 27 overs, Worcestershire were well-placed to hoist a challenging total.

A delicate Singh sweep went perilously close to his leg stump before James Anderson's return into the attack brought a savage response from Hick. A sumptuous off-drive was followed in rapid succession by a clubbing shot past cover and a square cut which simply raced to the boundary. This indeed was the Graeme Hick of old.

Hick drove pleasantly again to bring up the 150 partnership as Worcestershire were making batting during the 'middle overs' rather easy, despite tigerish fielding by Lancashire. The fielding side were left to rue the absence of a slip once more as Flintoff, bending his back for the first time in the game, extracted alarming bounce and found the edge of Singh's bat, the ball evading the diving Hegg.

The batsman's reprieve lasted just two balls though as he climbed into a short ball from Flintoff and smashed it straight to Chris Schofield at backward point with the total on 159. Anurag Singh's fine 63 had given Worcestershire a perfect platform.

New batsman Ben Smith got himself into an awful tangle and was lucky to avoid being adjudged leg-before to the much-improved Flintoff but Hick, meanwhile, progressed serenely into the nineties with another cracking slap through cover.

Chapple's return almost brought about the demise of Hick when his first ball was driven straight back to the bowler who deposited the fleeting chance into the dirt. Another rank long-hop was crashed over point by Smith as Worcestershire continued to profit from largely indifferent bowling.

With Hick seemingly set for yet another century, he unexpectedly lost his wicket. As he played across the line to a ball of fuller length from the revitalised Chapple, the ball seemed to stop a little in the pitch, struck the leading edge of the turning blade and flew straight to Hooper at cover who made no mistake with the simplest of chances. Hick's vintage innings of 97 contained 16 boundaries and was of the highest quality.

Ben Smith clubbed John Wood over midwicket for another boundary and then, as if to demonstrate that this was not such an easy wicket to bat on after all, he brought up the 200 in the 42nd over with another false stroke to mid-on as once again the ball seemed to check and stop a little on the parched track.

Andrew Hall stroked Chapple through the on side for his first boundary as Worcestershire started to throw the bat in the final overs. Peter Martin tinkered with his off side field - only to see Hall smack the ball straight through the area where the fielder had been moved from.

Hall blazed a Chapple half-volley over midwicket but Lancashire's new boy in the England set-up finished his curate's egg of a stint with the rather unflattering figures of 1-57. The hitherto economical Peter Martin, too, finished with a dreadful leg-side full toss which Hall had little difficulty in despatching past fine leg.

Flintoff bowled an exceptional over of six perfect yorkers which only allowed the batsmen to scramble three singles. His England partner, Anderson, responded in kind with a thoughtful over which strangled Hall into playing a somewhat extravagant shot straight down the throat of Mark Chilton at deep cover to end a dangerous-looking innings on 26.

Flintoff's final over was another beauty, going for just three and including the wicket of Worcestershire skipper Ben Smith (36), caught on the boundary by Anderson with the total on 240. A peculiar slow bouncer from Anderson was pulled through midwicket for four and a cue-ender past third man brought matters to a close on a challenging 254-5.

The in-form Kabir Ali, a man who can probably consider himself unfortunate to be overlooked by England this time around, started with an excellent maiden to Mal Loye. When Nantie Hayward commenced in similar vein to Mark Chilton, the suspicion was that Worcestershire's total was a very testing one indeed.

Loye's single to get off the mark was a scampered affair, then Kabir Ali proceeded to give Chilton a serious examination, beating him outside off stump thrice in succession. Chilton eventually got off the mark at the 10th attempt with a single down to third man. Both Lancashire batsman were looking anything but comfortable as just 10 runs were eked out of the first five overs.

Chilton found the boundary with a straight drive off the increasingly ragged Hayward but the bowler struck back in fine style with a yorker which crashed on to the batsman's toe. There may have been a question as to whether the batsman was outside the line when contact was made, but not in the mind of the umpire - out for 6. The over continued in eventful fashion with an over-stepping no-ball - and Stuart Law had little trouble in despatching the resultant 'free hit' over the boundary for four.

Kabir Ali continued to impress, his first four overs realising six runs as opposed to the wayward Hayward (!) who continued to spray the ball around, Loye having no difficulty in finding the boundary at fine leg. Another no-ball, another free hit to Loye and this time a huge six over fine leg as 17 came off the South African speedster's fourth over.

For once, Ali erred in line to Mal Loye who profited again to the sum of four runs to fine leg but by and large it was a most impressive opening burst by the fine prospect.

The burly Matt Mason replaced the profligate Hayward and his first ball to Loye was a beauty, lifting and seaming away. The second, however, tested the middle of the pitch two feet outside off stump and it got exactly the treatment it deserved from Loye who flayed it through the covers to bring up the fifty in the tenth over.

A lifting delivery from Ali rapped Loye a painful blow on the thumb which required lengthy treatment, but the batsman displayed no ill effects a moment later with a crunching drive straight past the bowler for another boundary.

Andrew Hall replaced Ali but his own start was less than impressive, alternating between wides outside off stump and 'help yourself' balls on Loye's pads - deliveries which the batsman had no hesitation in tucking away for runs with increasing regularity.

With the score on 70 Stuart Law (8), for so long starved of the strike, went for a wide ball from Mason and carved it straight into the waiting hands of Andrew Hall at slip who made a sharp chance look very straightforward. In the following over, Mal Loye went to a thoroughly accomplished fifty with a classy leg-glance for four off Hall.

Former West Indian captain Carl Hooper came perilously close to losing his wicket before he had got off the mark, twice succeeding in avoiding an edge to keeper or slips by the narrowest of margins as the Worcestershire bowling tightened up appreciably. At the end of 15 overs, though, Lancashire were still well up with the asking rate on 75-2.

Matt Mason bowled an impressive maiden to Loye, leaving the batsman groping air on three occasions as the home side attempted to tighted their grip on proceedings. Andrew Hall responded with a maiden of his own to Hooper in what was rapidly becoming an intriguing contest.

The stranglehold was momentarily broken by Loye once more, neatly slotting a wide ball from Mason past the diving cover point but Mason came back well, beating the outside edge once more. Hooper eventually got going at the 10th attempt, nudging Andrew Hall for a single down to third man but by and large the all-too-frequent supply of bad balls had dried up. It was Hooper's final contribution to proceedings as when he faced his next ball, he was struck in front of middle by a perfect Hall delivery which nipped back off the seam to reduce Lancashire to 81-3.

It was essential from Lancashire's viewpoint thet the partnership between Andrew Flintoff and Mal Loye should bear fruit, but the start was watchful in the extreme. England 'new boy' Gareth Batty made his entry into the attack and started with an impressive maiden to Loye who had very much gone into his shell.

Flintoff, itching to get after the bowling, held himself in check awhile before blazing a ball of fuller length from Mason high over mid off for his first boundary to bring to an end a spell of nine overs which had realised just 16 runs. Loye then played a delightful late cut off Batty for a boundary of his own to take Lancashire on to 97-3 at the halfway stage and with an awful lot to do.

Matt Mason incurred the wrath of umpire John Holder, receiving two official warnings for trespassing into the 'no-go' area one foot on either side of middle stump, then a deft sweep by Loye brought up the 100 at the end of the 27th over. The impressive Mason finished his spell of 10 overs bowled straight through with the impressive figures of 1-23.

With more than seven runs per over required, Lancashire were in dire need of boundaries - and Flintoff supplied one off the first ball following Hall's resumption, high over mid-off. Hall had the last laugh, though, setting Flintoff (15) up with a perfect out-swinger and following that up with an in-ducker to strike the batsman on the pad to leave Lancashire in desperate trouble on 108-4. John Holder was in no doubt but with Flintoff a long way down the wicket, it looked a more than generous decision in favour of the bowler.

Schofield gave Batty an immediate charge, lofting the ball over cover for four but when he tried to repeat the exercise off the following delivery, the batsman was exceedingly fortunate to beat the stumping attempt by Steven Rhodes. Loye then slog-swept Andrew Hall for a huge six over square leg before a coming-together between the players in mid-wicket brought about an exchange of sharp glances and more than a few words.

Loye launched Batty over long-on to move past 80 before the introduction of the medium pace trundlings of David Leatherdale was greeted with another enormous maximum into the trees beside the scoreboard by Loye. Schofield played a clever reverse sweep for four and followed that up with two straight drives and a pull for further boundaries. Batty might have been selected for the England squad but Schofield in this mood was no respector of reputations.

The flamboyant Schofield perished in Leatherdale's next over however, swatting a ball of fuller length straight to Hayward at widish mid-on for a rapid-fire 32 which had given Lancashire just a sniff at 171-5.

The return of the pace of Kabir Ali and Nantie Hayward presented further problems for Lancashire who required a further 70 runs from the last ten overs, but Glen Chapple smote Ali mightily through the off side to keep his side in touch with the asking-rate. Another straight drive by the same batsman off Leatherdale brought four more and a sharp single brought up the 200. One ball later, a huge cheer from the visiting supporters greeted an excellent hundred from Mal Loye.

A fine Hayward over conceded just four runs and included a vociferous appeal for leg before against Loye. The ball would certainly have gone on to strike the stumps but the batsman may have just managed to stretch outside the line of off stump.

Leatherdale was swept fine by Loye for four and two, then a savage pull for four reduced the defecit still further as the Worcestershire players wilted in the heat. Chapple, with a mixture of sweet timing and less cultured swishes continued to frustrate the Worcestershire bowlers as they sought to make further inroads.

With four overs to go, the visitors still required a further 30 but with the Chapple blade continuing to whirl with great effect, Lancashire appeared to have timed their reply perfectly. Kabir Ali was treated with utter disdain as Chapple twice smacked slower balls over long-off.

Andrew Hall started his penultimate over in fine style, conceding just a single from the first four balls but Chapple lofted him too to the point boundary leaving Lancashire tantalisingly close with just 15 to win from two overs.

Desperate fielding prevented one Chapple boundary but there was little that anyone could do when the following ball, a full toss from Kabir Ali, was simply smashed over extra cover for a much-needed four. With Lancashire almost there, Chapple (42) lost his leg stump aiming in the same direction to reduce the red rose county to 247-6. Another single meant that seven were required with one vital over to go.

It fell to Andrew Hall to bowl the decisive over, and he gave his side the perfect start to it by clean bowling Warren Hegg first ball. In a finish every bit as dramatic as that in the first semi-final, Hall defeated Peter Martin's outside edge with his second ball, then uprooted his middle stump with his third as panic set in for the first time. Seven needed, three balls to go.

John Wood played and missed, then another superb yorker evaded the flailing blade of Wood who lost his head completely and failed to run with Loye charging down the wicket desperately seeking the strike. Wicketkeeper Steven Rhodes sprinted to the bowler's end to run Wood out by yards. Five balls, three wickets, no runs.

There was no no-ball to come to Lancashire's rescue as Loye could only manage a single off the final delivery. Mal Loye had batted superbly for his undefeated 116, but in the end this contest was decided by a quite incredible last over by a bowler who is fast earning a reputation as a man who can keep his head under the most extreme pressure - a last over which deservedly carried his team through to Lord's and one which earned Andrew Hall the Man of the Match award.


Worcestershire 254-5 (Hick 97, Singh 63, Flintoff 2-33, Anderson 2-48)
beat
Lancashire 248-9 (Loye 116*, Hall 4-36, Mason 1-23)
by 6 runs


Posted by Eddie