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Lancashire v Cricket Web
County Championship - D1 - 24 Apr 2004
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The fixture monkeys had dealt CW the hardest possible fixture to open the County Championship season, an away trip to fortress Old Trafford. If the Web could emerge with a draw, or as miracles do happen, a win then the quest for the title would surely take a massive boost.
The only abscence for the Web was the unfortunate Malone, his injury sustained when his latest woman slammed the door on his hand in a fit of anger. Several squad members returned to preseason training with stories to tell, Neil Pickup was sporting a new aerodynamic hairstlye and Halsey had piled a few pounds on. Kearsley had a bit of a wild off season and rumour has it that there will be a couple of little DK's running around in 7 or 8 months, he already has an appearance of Jerry Springer booked. Rueben Thomas and Mr Wright set up a fairly successful adult cinema and Ash Chaulk followed Elton John on his world tour. Meanwhile Scott Craze and Jamee Gray took off season employment as street cleaners.
The first side select payed homage to CW's international stars, only Scott Craze and Malone missing from those on tour. Mr Wright and Dave Kearsley provided the pace options whilst Jellett took the gloves and Richards bolstered the middle order, aswell as contributing to a strong spin unit with Halsey also included.
Lancs won the toss and batted first, the opening pair almost seeing off the new ball, Driver falling in the last over of Kearsley's spell. Chapman then took 2 wickets, and with Halsey and Cloete also getting in on the act Lancs were 82-5. However Roberts and Schofield held them up before the former was run out. But Haynes came in and played the best knock of the innings, making 69 from 152 balls to take Lancashire past 200, though 228 was still a poor score. Chapman finished with 4-61.
Succesive 50 partnership's between Vimes and Bennett and Vimes and Nichani put CW in a strong position before the 4th wicket partnership of 137 slammed the advantage home, Cloete made 79. Richards then continued on with Bluefox, adding a further 91 toghether before Richards fell for 124. Bluefox went on to make 83 as CW were bowled out for 450.
A decent bowling performance was all that was required, and after some resistance early on, the persistance paid of. Lancs crumbled from 85-1 to 133-6 with chapman and Halsey the chief architects and Lancs struggled to 257 all out thanks to some tail wagging from Martin and Schofield. CW were left with just 36 to win, Halsey finished with 5-59
2 wickets were lost in the chase but the Web won by 8 wickets with Vimes 23*. Richards won the MOM in a result that bodes well for the season.
Lancashire - 1st Innings
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R Driver b Kearsley 16
A Swann b Chapman 15
I Ul Haq c Vimes b Chapman 9
A Flintoff lbw b Halsey 14
G Lloyd b Cloete 9
T Roberts run out 39
C Schofield b Chapman 34
J Haynes b Richards 69
G Chapple c Richards b Chapman 0
P Martin lbw b Wright 0
M Smethurst not out 16
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Extras (nb6,b1) 7
TOTAL (all out, 84.5 overs) 228
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O M R W
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D Richards 9.5 2 20 1
A Cloete 7 2 30 1
T Halsey 15 4 47 1
D Chapman 24 8 61 4
M Wright 13 3 31 1
D Kearsley 16 5 38 1
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1-32 2-39 3-56 4-60 5-82
6-116 7-178 8-178 9-181 10-228
Cricket Web - 1st Innings
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S Vimes c Flintoff b Smethurst 62
S Bennett c Haynes b Martin 23
N Nichani b Chapple 21
A Cloete c Driver b Chapple 79
D Richards c Flintoff b Smethurst 124
BlueFox c Ul Haq b Flintoff 83
D Jellett c Flintoff b Chapple 22
D Kearsley b Schofield 1
T Halsey b Flintoff 1
M Wright c Ul Haq b Schofield 9
D Chapman not out 8
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Extras (nb8,w4,b3,lb2) 17
TOTAL (all out, 122.3 ovrs) 450
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O M R W
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A Flintoff 11 2 24 2
C Schofield 25.3 3 72 2
P Martin 18 2 80 1
G Chapple 32 3 110 3
M Smethurst 36 4 159 2
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1-58 2-110 3-126 4-263 5-354
6-413 7-429 8-431 9-431 10-450
Lancashire - 2nd Innings
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R Driver b Halsey 18
A Swann c Kearsley b Chapman 39
I Ul Haq c Chapman b Halsey 20
A Flintoff c Richards b Chapman 25
G Lloyd c Chapman b Halsey 4
T Roberts c Vimes b Chapman 14
C Schofield b Halsey 49
J Haynes lbw b Richards 13
G Chapple b Wright 17
P Martin c Vimes b Halsey 41
M Smethurst not out 1
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Extras (nb4,w2,b7,lb3) 16
TOTAL (all out, 103 ovrs) 257
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O M R W
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A Cloete 13 5 17 0
D Richards 13 4 38 1
T Halsey 24 5 59 5
D Chapman 26 6 66 3
M Wright 13 2 26 1
D Kearsley 14 2 41 0
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1-49 2-85 3-89 4-108 5-122
6-133 7-168 8-193 9-246 10-257
Cricket Web - 2nd Innings
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S Vimes not out 23
S Bennett b Chapple 0
N Nichani c Flintoff b Chapple 10
A Cloete not out 1
D Richards
BlueFox
D Jellett
D Kearsley
T Halsey
M Wright
D Chapman
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Extras (nb2) 2
TOTAL (2 wkts, 9.5 overs) 36
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O M R W
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G Chapple 4.5 0 15 2
M Smethurst 5 0 21 0
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1-6 2-32
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Cricket Web won by 8 wickets
Man of the match: D Richards
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2nd Team Scores:
Brad Smith (21 & 27), Ash Chaulk (53 & 12*), A Ferd (12 & 33), Blewy (12 & 43*, 2-54), BK Smith (63 & 12), Eclipse (60 & 85), Nathan Hoy (1 & 10), Age Master (64 & 15), Jamee Gray(115* & 113), Tarick Weber (58 & 8), Scott Craze ( 12 & 45), Dave Hall (1 & 10, 4-68 & 1-22), Patrick Nath (11 & 41*, 2-48 & 2-52), Rueben Thomas (66 & 3, 1-27 & 1-22), Neil Pickup (28 & 2, 2-42 & 3-81), Liam Camps (84 & 15*, 2-66 & 2-106), Nick Scott (28 & 12, 1-41 & 4-80)
Buggsy Malone: Injured