Lancashire secure ECB 50+ title
Lancashire, runners-up in 1999, secured their fourth National Over 50's title, defeating Kent by 17 runs at Bolton yesterday
Staff and agencies
14-Sep-2000
Lancashire, runners-up in 1999, secured their fourth National Over 50's title, defeating Kent by 17 runs at Bolton yesterday. Lancashire, appearing in their ninth Final since the competition started in 1984, avenged their defeat by Kent at The Mote in 1991.
Despite a delayed start due to overnight rain, Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat only to find themselves pinned down by an accurate Kent opening attack of Chambers and Wakeham. Both bowled through their allotted nine overs each with Chambers (1 for 16) and Wakeham (0 for 18) leaving Lancashire on 31 for 1 from their first 18 overs. Bocarro and Lyon gradually stepped up the run-rate but it was left to some forceful late order batting by Gee (40) and Whiston (29 not out) to push Lancashire's total to a modest but respectable 167 for 4 from their allotted 45 overs.
Kent got off to a racing start with Howgego in particular keen to exploit gaps in the field. The loss of Wooding for 15 and skipper Swadkin for 4, both to catches behind the wicket, did not seem to slow the impetus much but four wickets, including that of Howgego for 52, fell for three runs, and Lancashire pulled themselves right back into contention. It was a grip they did not let go again and despite some lusty hitting by Chambers (40), Kent steadily lost wickets and finally finished on 150 for 9, 17 runs short of their opponents.
ECB's Recreational Cricket Operations Manager, Frank Kemp, presented momentoes to both sides, umpires and scorers and congratulated both sides on a fine game of cricket.
50+ COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL OF HONOUR
2000 Lancashire Kent at Bolton CC 1999 Wales Lancashire at Pontardulais CC 1998 Yorkshire Wales at Bradford & Bingley CC 1997 Middlesex Lancashire at Ealing CC 1996 Staffordshire Warwickshire at Old Sillhillians CC 1995 Lancashire Worcestershire at Bolton CC 1994 Worcestershire Warwickshire at Worcester 1993 Lancashire Dorset at Chorley CC 1992 Derbyshire Devon at Exmouth CC 1991 Kent Lancashire at The Mote CC 1990 Wales Essex at Chelmsford 1989 Kent Staffordshire at The Mote CC 1988 Devon Lancashire at Westhoughton CC 1987 Berkshire Lancashire at Westhoughton CC 1986 Essex Wales at Chelmsford 1985 Lancashire Wiltshire at Chelmsford 1984 Sussex Essex at Chelmsford