Date-stamped : 30 May95 - 06:28 CC: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, Liverpool, 25-29 May 1995 ====> Day 1, 25 May 95 Cairns strikes to stifle Lancashire - Brian Bearshaw First day of four: Lancs (277-8) v Notts CHRIS CAIRNS, the New Zealand all-rounder, threw off the cares of a troublesome side injury to take four for 43 and give Not- tinghamshire the edge on a day of shifting fortune. The morning was Lancashire`s. A partnership of 88 between Steve Titchard and John Crawley was just the tonic for a team lacking the considerable batting talents of Mike Atherton and Neil Fair- brother, in addition to opening bowler Peter Martin, all engaged with England. This was a test of the depth of Lancashire`s squad and at 125 for one everything looked rosy. Titchard, an experienced stand-in, had passed 50 after being dropped in the gully at 38; Crawley was tormenting Nottinghamshire as he threatened another big score. Then up strode Cairns, who played purely as a batsman in the last championship match to protect his injury, to dismiss them both in successive overs. And when he went off Kevin Evans removed Graham Lloyd and Mike Watkinson. Lancashire fought back from 190 for five through a partnership of 79 between Nick Speak and Wasim Akram, but Nottinghamshire quick- ly regained control when they took two wickets with the new ball just before rain ended play 45 minutes early. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 26 May 95 Robinson reaps a rich harvest - Brian Bearshaw Second day of four: Nottinghamshire (244-5) trail Lancashire (309) by 65 runs LANCASHIRE have been playing on this attractive ground in the Liverpool suburb of Aigburth for 114 years. Two of the county`s batting records, for the first and last wickets, were established here on a wicket that has traditionally suited batsmen. Today`s pitch has been easy paced, designed for the diligent, ideal for the likes of Tim Robinson, whose tenacity has given Nottinghamshire a genuine chance of taking the lead today. His century arrived after four hours of sturdy resistance, par- ticularly against Wasim Akram, who fired several searing deliveries at the batsmen, one of which flashed past Robinson`s chin when he was 99. If the Nottinghamshire captain flinched, it did not show and did not put him off reaching the 53rd century of his career, off 209 balls. There was the occasional fright, but only one clear-cut chance when he turned a ball from Wasim through short leg`s hands when 37. It was a costly miss. If that catch had stuck, Lancashire might well have taken an important first-innings lead on a day when play ended an hour early because of rain. Only one batsman, Graeme Archer, gave Robinson lasting support, sharing in a second-wicket partnership of 117 after Mathew Dowman had been whipped out second ball by Wasim. Chris Cairns, who had bowled beautifully for his five for 64 in Lancashire`s 309, threatened briefly to provide the innings with the necessary impetus but three impressively-struck boundaries were followed by an edge to slip off the persevering Gary Keedy. ====> Day 3, 27 May 95 Austin proves his worth - Brian Bearshaw Third day: Lancs (309 & 110-0) lead Notts (292) by 127 runs IAN AUSTIN is one of county cricket`s hard-working operators who regularly makes all-round telling contributions to Lancashire`s cause. Now in his ninth season, Austin has played only 67 first-class matches. His speciality has been the one-day game - he won his first man of the match award this season with four wickets for eight against the Minor Counties. He took the opportunity to blossom last year when Wasim Akram re- turned home in July for Pakistan`s tour of Sri Lanka. He took 10 wickets in the defeat of Middlesex on the pitch which cost Lan- cashire 25 points and finished the summer not only topping Lancashire`s championship bowling averages - 33 wickets at under 19 runs each - but finished fourth in the national averages behind Ambrose, Walsh and Mc- Cague. He averaged more than 25 with the bat and played a considerable part in Lancashire`s successful season in the championship and Sunday game. But with Wasim back in the side and Martin and Chapple having firmly secured their place, Austin`s chances could again be lim- ited this summer. His first championship appearance is in this important game for Lancashire, who have started the season with three championship wins, three Sunday victories and four wins from five in the Ben- son & Hedges Cup with the other washed out. He had the best return of Lancashire`s six bowlers yesterday, three for 63, when Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 292, leav- ing Lancashire with a first-innings lead of 17. In his first four overs he removed both overnight batsmen, Tim Robinson, beaten by a ball which skidded through, and Kevin Evans, tempted to flash at a ball leaving him and edging to the wicketkeeper. Steve Titchard, another man used to playing the understudy, got his second 50 in the match as he and Jason Gallian shared in an unbroken opening partnership of 110 on a day when 47 overs were lost to rain. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 4, 29 May 95 Scant reward for Lancashire slog - Brian Bearshaw Lancs (309 & 238-8 dec) drew with Notts (292 & 172-8) THE only cheer for Lancastrians at the final day of this match was to hear that Bolton Wanderers had won at Wembley. It was some consolation for Lancashire`s captain, Mike Watkinson, a long- standing Bolton supporter, on the day Lancashire lost their 100 per cent championship record. When play started an hour late after rain, Lancashire were 127 ahead and they threw caution to the winds adding 128 in 31 overs. Steve Titchard was again top scorer, following his 57 of the first innings with 81. With the home side slogging, left-arm spinner Jimmy Hindson, 21, picked up five wickets before the de- claration at 238 for eight. The target was 256 in what turned out to be 61 overs and after Tim Robinson and Jon Wileman put on 102 runs, the last 20 overs started with Nottinghamshire needing 145 more. Paul Johnson was quickly bowled by Ian Austin and when Watkinson dismissed Chris Cairns with a leaping catch, Nottinghamshire shut up shop. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)