C Randall: Roses tie to test ticket market (8 Jul 1998)

8 July 1998

Roses tie to test ticket market

By Charles Randall

LANCASHIRE, mindful of the attendance figures for the third Test against South Africa, are hoping for a large crowd and a match crackling with tension at Old Trafford when they meet Yorkshire in the NatWest Trophy second round today.

Their wish would have seemed all too obvious if the Test had not received disappointing support from the Manchester public over the weekend. The official attendance for the eventful final day was 2,629, with tickets at oe10.

The Lancashire-Yorkshire one-dayers have attracted healthy crowds, especially the near-capacity semi-final two years ago which Lancashire won by 19 runs, twisting the knife after eliminating their Roses rivals from the Benson and Hedges Cup with a last-ball semi-final win two months earlier.

Yorkshire have a poor one-day record in all competitions at Old Trafford, though the last time they won a 60 overs match there, also in the second round in 1969, they went on to win the trophy for the second and last time.

With their Australian left-hander Darren Lehmann back to fitness and form, Yorkshire have a reasonable chance of silencing the Lancashire crowd.

Scotland, with a Yorkshireman in charge, will be surprise quarter-finalists if they can beat Derbyshire at the Grange, the Edinburgh venue where they beat Worcestershire in the first round.

Jim Love, the former Yorkshire batsman who is Scotland's director of cricket, has uncovered a good seam bowler in Craig Wright, a tall Glasgow Caledonian University graduate who took five wickets for 23 in 12 overs against Worcestershire.

Wright spent last winter playing club cricket in Sydney. Love said: "Craig bowled very well against Worcestershire. He bowled people out - his wickets weren't give-aways at all. I'd said all along we were ready to knock a county over. We did do and we'll have to see if we can do it again."

The Scots have a realistic chance, especially as Derbyshire have been weakened by the absence of Phillip DeFreitas, down with tonsillitis, and Adrian Rollins, who has back trouble.

A crowd of barely 800 shared the first-round success but there are signs cricket is on an upward curve at all levels north of the English border. Love said: "There's a lot going on up here and interest is catching. Our World Cup qualification has turned cricket on its head."

Hampshire's hopes of disturbing Essex, the holders, have been diminished by the likely absence of Robin Smith, their captain, with a broken finger. Essex's loss of Darren Robinson, also with a broken finger, seems less serious.

David Millns, having recovered from illness, has been omitted from the Leicestershire side against Glamorgan and it looks as though the fast bowler will not make the Benson and Hedges Cup final side against Essex next Saturday.

Warwickshire enter their contest with Kent as hot favourites, having won all four matches at Edgbaston in consecutive years to 1995. But as the last two victories were by eight and 10 runs, excitement should be high this time.

Middlesex take on Durham at a club venue, the attractive Southgate ground, to keep Lord's pristine for the Benson and Hedges Cup final. The last time Durham were accommodated by Middlesex at an out-ground, Uxbridge six years ago, they won in style by six wickets.

NATWEST TROPHY - 2nd round (10.30am)

Cardiff: Glamorgan v Leics
Bristol: Gloucs v Surrey
Southampton: Hants v Essex
Old Trafford: Lancs v Yorks
Southgate: Middlesex v Durham
Trent Bridge: Notts v Somerset
Edinburgh: Scotland v Derbys
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Kent

TOUR MATCH - Broughty Ferry (2nd day of 3, 11am): Scotland v Bangladesh

2ND XI CHAMPIONSHIP (11) - 2nd day of 4: Studley CC: Warwicks v Worcs. 1st day of 3: Chester-le-Street: Durham v Sussex. Chelmsford: Essex v Northants. Canterbury: Kent v Lancs. Harrow: Middlesex v Derbys. Taunton: Somerset v Notts. Oval: Surrey v Glamorgan. Todmorden: Yorks v Hants.

MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP (2nd day of 2, 11) - Fenner's: Cambs v Cumberland. Oxford (Christ Church): Oxfordshire v Cornwall.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)