Lancashire vs Worcestershire - Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A – Lancs prevail via D/L method

Lancashire vs Worcestershire - Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A – Lancs prevail via D/L method

Lancashire moved up to second in Group A after defeating Worcestershire by 12 runs – Duckworth Lewis method – in their Clydesdale Bank 40 match, played at Old Trafford, Manchester, on June 5, 2012.

The events at the half-way stage did little in suggesting  a victory for the hosts, after Worcester’s top order batsmen, Vikram Solanki and Phil Hughes, had struck impressive centuries to guide the team to a above par total of 259.

However, with rain intervening Lancs were given a revised target of 131 in 19 overs. They had reached 95 for 1 before rain halted play again but luckily, remained ahead on the D/L method.

The hosts earlier opted to bowl first in a bid to make use of the overcast conditions. The start was promising as Sajid Mahmood pinned Moeen Ali leg before in just the third over. However, Solanki and Hughes offered stability and went about their business in a composed manner.

They accumulated steadily in the initial phase before making full use of the batting Powerplay – collecting 40 in four. Solanki scored more than run-a-ball and eventually ended up making 121, which included 8 fours and 5 sixes.

Hughes also pampered the leg side boundary to great effect, notching up a second consecutive ton in the competition. The tourists somewhat lost their way in the death overs after Solanki was cleaned up by Stephen Parry in the 35^th over – ending the 208-run stand for the second wicket.

None of the reaming batters reached double figures while Hughes also departed after making 104. Worcestershire closed on 259 for 9, with Ajmal Shahzad picking up four wickets.

In reply of the initial target, Lancs had reached 69 for 1 in 11.4 overs. The only wicket that fell was of South African overseas player, Ashwell Prince, who was cleaned up by Ali for 14. However, it was Prince’s opening partner Stephen Moore, whose half-century proved decisive in the end.

He had reached 52 before rain interfered for the second time but the player did not lose his focus, adding eight more on resumption, partnered by skipper Steven Croft ( 19 off 14), to help his side win the game by the D/L method.