Clydesdale Bank 40: Lancashire defeats Worcestershire by 4 wickets
Luke Procter’s maiden half century helped Lancashire seal an entertaining 4 wicket victory over Worcestershire Royals in a Clydesdale Bank 40 clash at Aigburth, Liverpool on Sunday. Chasing Worcestershire’s competitive total of 258 for 6, Lancashire was taken home by half centuries from Steven Croft and Luke Procter with 4 wickets still intact.
Lancashire’s start stop run chase was led by Luke Procter’s maiden half-century followed by Steven Croft’s whirlwind 60 off just 35 deliveries, scoring 10 well-timed fours and a lofty six. Luke Procter’s career best 64 not out was scored off 59 balls with the help of six boundaries and one huge six.
After losing skipper Paul Horton for just 2 on the 11th ball of the innings, Karl Brown and Steven Croft took charge and set the side on its way to victory with a second wicket stand of 89 runs with the bulk coming through the latter. Croft made his half-century off just 26 balls, blazing his way in the middle. Both players brought the hundred up for the side in the 12th over. After scoring 60 runs off 35 balls, Croft departed after a 39 minute blitz which saw him hit 11 fours and 1 six.
Steven Croft was soon followed back by Mark Chilton and opener Karl Brown as the side faltered to 120 for 4. Chilton scored nine runs from 18 balls before he was caught leg before wicket on Shakib Al Hasan’s low ball that thumped into his pads. Opener Karl Brown was caught by Jack Shantry off Moeen Ali’s fine delivery. Brown’s hour long stay at the crease earned Lancashire 41 runs off 47 balls including five muscular boundaries.
Brown’s dismissal brought Luke Procter to the crease and in partnership with wicketkeeper batsman Gareth Cross, the pair shared a 49 run stand for the fifth wicket partnership to put the side back on track to a four wicket win. After Cross’s departure in the 26th over with 169 on the board, it was Jordan Clarke who supported Procter’s assault with his 32 run knock off 40 balls. A half-century partnership between Procter and Clark, the side only required 30 more runs to win. Clarke finally departed when he was caught and bowled by Shantry in the 37th over.
Luke Procter cruised to his maiden fifty off 53 balls. Procter’s unbeaten 64 off 59 took Lancashire home in the final over with five balls to spare and four wickets intact.
Earlier Alexei Kervezee’s pugnacious ton helped the Royals to log a competitive total of 258 in their allotted 40 overs with the loss of just six wickets. Kervezee top scored with 111 from 101 balls, hitting 11 muscular boundaries across the turf during his two hour entertaining stay at the crease. Kervezee’s century was well supported by skipper Daryl Mitchell who compiled 40 runs from 54 balls exclusively through singles and doubles. Kervezee and skipper Daryl Mitchell shared 96 runs for the fourth wicket partnership inside 29 overs as the side totalled an imposing 258 for 6.
Vikram Solanki and James Cameron chipped in with some useful contributions to drag the side towards a competitive total. Opener Solanki added 24 runs to the scorecard before Cross stumped him off Keedy while Cameron’s unbeaten 29 came through 20 balls with four fours to his credit.
Gary Keedy finished with 4 for 41 from his quota of 8 overs while Steven Cheetham and Steven Croft shared one wicket each.