Muttiah's last hurrah (12 August 1999)

12 August 1999

Muttiah's last hurrah

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Muttiah Muralitharan has one last target before leaving Lancashire for Sri Lanka next week - taking them to the top of the CGU National League.

Murali finally translated his brilliant Championship form to the one-day stage at Old Trafford on Tuesday, tying Gloucestershire in knots to earn figures of 9-4-12-3.

And wicket keeper Warren Hegg revealed that Lancashire's overseas ace now wants to go out with a bang in the floodlit double header against Yorkshire Phoenix.

Murali will head home after next Tuesday's Roses clash at Old Trafford and ahead of tonight's opening instalment at Headingley, Hegg said: He's desperately keen that we win something this season.

"And while he can't stay to the end he would like to leave us in the best position possible."

Lightning could strike a double blow by extending their unbeaten run to seven matches at Headingley.

Not only would they virtually knock Yorkshire out of title contention, but they would also go above First Division leaders Worcestershire Royals, who do not have a game today.

Lancashire were looking for a repeat of last season when they crushed Yorkshire by 101 runs in Headingley's first ever day-night match to go top of the table.

Earby-born Glen Chapple was their hero that night with career best figures of 6-25 as the Tykes tumbled to 71 all out after John Crawley's 73 had set up a Lancashire total of 182-8.

Both Chapple and Crawley will definitely play with Lightning expecting to name an unchanged team - and Yorkshire hoping for a five-figure Headingley crowd.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)