Andy Wilson
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CricInfo Championship: Lancashire v Essex at Manchester, 19-22 Jun 2001 Andy Wilson |
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Lancashire 1st innings:
Essex 2nd innings: Essex 1st innings: |
The brilliant Queenslander was left high and dry on 116 as Essex were all out for 226 in their first innings, with Muttiah Muralitharan claiming six for 53 from 48 overs for Lancashire.
It was a similar story when the visitors followed on 205 runs behind, with Law unbeaten on 60 at the close of the third day but Essex still needing 45 runs to avoid an innings defeat at 160 for four.
Murali picked up his seventh wicket of the match by having Ronnie Irani caught off bat and pad but Glen Chapple did most of the damage with a spell of three for two in 17 balls after Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton had shared an opening stand of 81.
To add to the drama Tony Brown, one of the England and Wales Cricket Board's pitch liaison officers, was summoned to Old Trafford by the umpires Allan Jones and Nigel Cowley following Essex's complaints that the match was being played on the pitch used for last week's one-day international, but he cleared Lancashire of any punishment.
Law, who had resumed at the start of the day on 47 in Essex's first innings, reached his second century of the season from 286 balls with 14 fours. But no one could stay with him long enough against the wiles of Muralitharan, who had Barry Hyam and Ricky Anderson caught by Neil Fairbrother at slip, and Ashley Cowan taken by Gary Keedy at deep backward square.
After lunch the Sri Lankan bowled Michael Davies before Chapple fired out Peter Such in his first over with the second new ball.
Law's second 50 of the day came from 49 balls with eight fours and a hooked six off Chapple. But amazingly, it might not be enough.
The Sri Lankan earned the amazing figures of 48-22-53-6 as Essex tumbled to 226 all out in reply to Lancashire's 431 - despite a superb unbeaten 116 from Stuart Law.
Lancashire skipper John Crawley enforced the follow-on and although Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton steered Essex to 59 without loss at tea, they still needed another 146 to avoid an innings defeat.
Essex had resumed on 101 for four with Law on 47, and it did not take the Australian long to reach 50 for the seventh Championship match on the trot.
Gary Keedy then made the first breakthrough for Lancashire by bowling Stephen Peters around his leg as he tried to sweep.
But then Murali took over. He had taken six for 74 in the second innings of Lancashire's last Championship match against Leicestershire and picked up where he left off.
Barry Hyam and Ricky Anderson were both caught by Neil Fairbrother at slip, Ashley Cowan top-edged a sweep to Keedy at deep backward square, and finally Michael Davies was bowled by a beautifully flighted delivery.
Law was in a different class, reaching his second century of the season from 286 balls with his 14th four, dancing down the pitch to loft Keedy over cover.
But he was left high and dry on 116 when Glen Chapple took the second new ball and had Peter Such caught by Andy Flintoff at second slip.
The Sri Lankan off-spinner, who took six for 74 in the second innings of Lancashire's victory over Leicestershire two weeks ago, picked up three of the four wickets to fall today as Essex struggled from 101 for four to 193 for eight.
That left them still needing 89 to avoid the follow-on, with Law running out of partners.
The Australian had resumed on 47 and quickly moved to his half-century, the seventh consecutive Championship match in which he has scored at least a 50.
But Essex's problems soon started at the other end, with Stephen Peters bowled around his legs as he tried to sweep Gary Keedy.
In the next over Barry Hyam also went on the sweep, with a thin edge lobbing off his pad to Neil Fairbrother at slip to give Muralitharan his first wicket of the day.
Ricky Anderson supported Law for 16 overs until he edged Murali's arm ball to Fairbrother at slip.
And it was another 16 overs before Murali accounted for Ashley Cowan, with the sweep again proving his downfall as he top-edged a catch to Keedy at deep backward square.
But Law was in a different class, and reached his second century of the season from 286 balls with his 14th four, dancing down the pitch to loft Keedy over cover.
Muralitharan had the remarkable figures of 42-18-45-5 at lunch.
After Atherton had eventually gone for 160, Hegg moved on to 133 to allow Lancashire to post 431, their highest total of the season.
Essex then slumped to 101 for four, still 181 short of saving the follow-on, with Muttiah Muralitharan claiming the impressive figures of two for 16 from 18 overs.
Peter Martin had made the first breakthrough, bowling Paul Grayson with a beauty.
But then Murali took over with the wickets of Darren Robinson and Richard Clinton, although Clinton had grafted 39 overs for 25 on his second Championship appearance.
Essex skipper Ronnie Irani then drove a return catch to Gary Keedy just before the close to give the left-arm spinner his first Championship wicket of the season, and leave the visitors relying heavily on Stuart Law, unbeaten on 47.
Law owed Essex a few runs as despite taking three slip catches, including Atherton off the debutant left arm spinner Michael Davies, he had also dropped difficult chances offered by Hegg on 57 and 92.
The wicket-keeper capitalised with his second century in three Championship innings, following a match-winning unbeaten 107 at Northampton earlier this month.
He faced a total of 242 balls and hit 15 fours and a six before falling an agonising single short of his career best, caught behind off the persevering Ashley Cowan, who ended with decent figures of three for 65 from 25.4 overs.
Such ended with three for 124 from 45, and Davies claimed three for 121 in 34 - an encouraging debut in difficult circumstances.
Atherton extended his overnight 125 to 160 but it was Hegg, with 133 from 242 balls, who piled on the agony for Essex as Lancashire amassed 431 in their first innings.
Paul Grayson and Darren Robinson then went cheaply to leave the visitors, who needed 282 to avoid the follow-on, 22 for two at tea.
Grayson was bowled by a beauty from Peter Martin, then Muttiah Muralitharan came on to find an ominous amount of turn from the Warwick Road End, trapping Robinson lbw in the last over before tea.
Lancashire had resumed on 230 for five, and Atherton and Hegg extended their sixth wicket stand to 143 in 52 overs before Essex made their first breakthrough.
It was Atherton who went, caught at slip off the former Northants left-arm spinner Michael Davies as he tried to hit to leg, after batting 413 minutes, facing 348 balls and hitting 23 fours.
But Hegg powered on to his second century in three Championship innings following his match-winning unbeaten 107 against Northants two weeks ago.
The former England wicket-keeper was dropped twice by Stuart Law, in the gully on 57 and at slip on 92, but hit a total of 15 fours and a six over mid wicket off Peter Such in the seventh Championship century of his career.
He was finally out one run short of his career best, caught behind cutting at Ashley Cowan.
By that point Lancashire had gone beyond 400 with Glen Chapple and Martin joining Hegg for handy stands, then Muralitharan slogged Cowan for three consecutive boundaries before the Essex seamer splayed his stumps.
Cowan ended with three for 65 from 25.4 overs, the best figures of the three Essex bowlers who picked up three wickets. Such had three for 124 from 45, and Davies three for 121 in 34 on a promising Essex debut. But they were still facing an uphill struggle to avoid defeat.
Hegg, who had joined Atherton with Lancashire in some trouble at 156 for five yesterday, reached an unbeaten 100 to steer them to 364 for eight at lunch.
It was the wicket keeper's second century of the season and the third consecutive Championship innings in which he has scored at least 50, following his match-winning unbeaten 107 against Northants then 51 against Leicestershire.
He offered only one chance, to Stuart Law at slip off Peter Such when he had scored 92. Earlier that over Hegg had launched Such over deep mid wicket for six and he reached his seventh Championship century in Such's next over from 196 balls having also hit 10 fours.
Lancashire had resumed on 230 for five, and Atherton moved from his overnight 125 to 160, extending his sixth-wicket stand with Hegg to 143 in 52 overs.
Michael Davies, the former Northants left-arm spinner making his Essex debut, finally claimed the wicket of the former England captain, caught at slip by Law as he tried to hit over mid wicket after batting 415 minutes, facing 348 balls and hitting 23 fours.
Glen Chapple made a positive start by launching Davies for a straight six but then hit a long hop to Paul Grayson at mid wicket, giving Davies his third wicket.
And just before lunch Peter Martin gave Such his third wicket, with Ashley Cowan this time taking the catch at mid wicket, after hitting a quick 19.
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Date-stamped : 21 Jun2001 - 22:24