Weather adds to Lancashire's gloom
Lancashire's relegation worries deepened as rain ruined the first day of their Cricinfo Championship match against Kent at Old Trafford
Andy Wilson
12-Sep-2001
Lancashire's relegation worries deepened as rain ruined the first day of
their Cricinfo Championship match against Kent at Old Trafford.
Kent reached 117 for three after being put in before rain forced an early
lunch, and continued all afternoon with play abandoned at 4pm.
Lancashire therefore took a single bowling bonus point while relegation
rivals Northants, five points behind them at start of play, piled on the
runs against Somerset at Taunton.
The day had started well for Lancashire with Glen Chapple trapping David
Fulton lbw for a duck and having Ed Smith brilliantly caught by Mark Chilton
at short leg for seven to leave Kent on 12 for two.
But Robert Key and Andrew Symonds responded with a third-wicket stand of
77.
Muttiah Muralitharan, who Lancashire flew back from Sri Lanka especially
for this game and was bowling by the 12th over, then took a sharp return
catch to dismiss Symonds for an entertaining 50-ball 43, which included five
boundaries.
But Key moved on to 42 and was joined by Matthew Walker to take the total
to 117 for three when the rain set in at 12.30.
Lancashire were missing Peter Martin because of a shin injury and there
was no Mike Atherton, who changed his mind about making an Old Trafford
farewell because of his ongoing back problems.