Worcestershire in control as Flintoff fails
A round-up of all the action from the opening day of the latest Second Division County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
27-Apr-2005
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Worcestershire 59 for 1 trail Lancashire 196 (Hegg 68*, Mason 3-22) by 137 runs
Scorecard
Worcestershire's seamers put in an impressive performance as they took control on a rain-shortened day at New Road. Lancashire were indebted to a feisty innings from their former skipper Warren Hegg, after Andrew Flintoff's first-class comeback resulted in a fifth-ball duck as he edged Kabir Ali to Graeme Hick at second slip, as Lancashire slumped to 81 for 4. That became 130 for 8 before a ninth-wicket stand of 66 between Hegg and James Anderson gave the score some respectability. Hegg smashed ten fours and a six from 64 balls, but Lancashire fell just short of a batting point. Ali, Matt Mason and Chaminda Vaas picked up three wickets apiece. Dominic Cork hit back immediately with the wicket of Stephen Moore for a duck, but Hick and Stephen Peters took Worcestershire through to the close with any further mishaps.
Scorecard
Worcestershire's seamers put in an impressive performance as they took control on a rain-shortened day at New Road. Lancashire were indebted to a feisty innings from their former skipper Warren Hegg, after Andrew Flintoff's first-class comeback resulted in a fifth-ball duck as he edged Kabir Ali to Graeme Hick at second slip, as Lancashire slumped to 81 for 4. That became 130 for 8 before a ninth-wicket stand of 66 between Hegg and James Anderson gave the score some respectability. Hegg smashed ten fours and a six from 64 balls, but Lancashire fell just short of a batting point. Ali, Matt Mason and Chaminda Vaas picked up three wickets apiece. Dominic Cork hit back immediately with the wicket of Stephen Moore for a duck, but Hick and Stephen Peters took Worcestershire through to the close with any further mishaps.
Northamptonshire 292 for 0 (Shafayat 156*, Love 129*) v Derbyshire
Scorecard
Bilal Shafayat struck an unbeaten career-best 156 as the Northamptonshire openers made hay while the lights shone at Derby. On an overcast day, the County Ground became the first English ground to use floodlights during a first-class match when the umpires signalled for them to be switched on just after 4pm. But they did nothing to brighten the Derbyshire bowling attack. After putting Northants in to bat they were made to chase leather for the 83 overs' play that was possible. Shafayat, after his winter move from Nottinghamshire and in a new role as opener, hit 20 fours and two sixes, while Martin Love hit his second century of the season. None of Derbyshire's five seamers or the left-arm spin of Ant Botha could make an impression as their tough start to the summer continued.
Scorecard
Bilal Shafayat struck an unbeaten career-best 156 as the Northamptonshire openers made hay while the lights shone at Derby. On an overcast day, the County Ground became the first English ground to use floodlights during a first-class match when the umpires signalled for them to be switched on just after 4pm. But they did nothing to brighten the Derbyshire bowling attack. After putting Northants in to bat they were made to chase leather for the 83 overs' play that was possible. Shafayat, after his winter move from Nottinghamshire and in a new role as opener, hit 20 fours and two sixes, while Martin Love hit his second century of the season. None of Derbyshire's five seamers or the left-arm spin of Ant Botha could make an impression as their tough start to the summer continued.
Somerset 119 for 5 v Essex
Scorecard
Essex made good use of the 38 overs possible at Taunton as Somerset's batting struggled once again. After the innings defeat against Yorkshire, Sanath Jayasuriya dropped down the order to accommodate the return of Marcus Trescothick, but he fell early to Alex Tudor, who struck again in an impressive spell to dismiss Michael Burns. Simon Francis (35) was trapped lbw by Darren Gough. then Graham Napier struck two huge blows in the same over. After his double failure against Yorkshire, Jayasuriya managed to get a start this time before he was caught behind, and two balls later Ian Blackwell was trapped lbw as Somerset slipped to 90 for 5. James Hildreth, one of most promising young batsmen on the circuit, held firm to the close and it will be down to him and the lower order to boost the total tomorrow.
Scorecard
Essex made good use of the 38 overs possible at Taunton as Somerset's batting struggled once again. After the innings defeat against Yorkshire, Sanath Jayasuriya dropped down the order to accommodate the return of Marcus Trescothick, but he fell early to Alex Tudor, who struck again in an impressive spell to dismiss Michael Burns. Simon Francis (35) was trapped lbw by Darren Gough. then Graham Napier struck two huge blows in the same over. After his double failure against Yorkshire, Jayasuriya managed to get a start this time before he was caught behind, and two balls later Ian Blackwell was trapped lbw as Somerset slipped to 90 for 5. James Hildreth, one of most promising young batsmen on the circuit, held firm to the close and it will be down to him and the lower order to boost the total tomorrow.