Lancs-Notts clash set to freshen memories

By Dave Bracegirdle

The last two winners of the LV= County Championship meet at Old Trafford this week in a match that is sure to evoke memories from their last fixture on the ground.

In September 2010 Nottinghamshire defied the odds to secure enough bonus points against Lancashire to whisk the title from under the noses of Somerset. After rain had ruined the first three days of the contest Notts were faced with a stark reality on the last day of the season. To win the title they needed to secure maximum batting points and pick up a bowling point AND hope Somerset didn’t win at Durham.

As the day drew on, it was apparent that the match in the north-east was heading for a draw. A stand of 153 for the fifth wicket between Adam Voges and Samit Patel propelled Notts towards their target but ten were still needed when last pair Ryan Sidebottom and Darren Pattinson came together. Run by run they inched closer, completing the task with 17 overs left in the day.

Defying all logic, Notts needed only 4.4 overs to pick up the three wickets they needed to seal the Championship, as Sidebottom removed Karl Brown and Andre Adams made short work of Mark Chilton and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The Lancashire resistance came in for a certain amount of criticism, principally from some of their own supporters.
 
Apart from the significance of the outcome, that match was also the last Championship fixture at Old Trafford to be played with the square running from east to west. A 90 degrees rotation took place over the following winter and was allowed time to bed in last summer, when Lancashire played their home matches on the road, at Liverpool, Blackpool and Southport.

It is somewhat ironic, then, that the first match back at their HQ will be against Nottinghamshire, a side that have won two and drawn two of their opening four fixtures this time around.

Two England bowlers may well be vying for the honour of bowling the first delivery with the strips now running from north to south. Jimmy Anderson will spearhead the attack for the Red Rose county, while Stuart Broad – plus his England international colleague Graeme Swann – are scheduled to turn out for Notts.

Lancashire, without a success so far, will be especially eager to commemorate the occasion with the victory that they hope will kick-start their title defence into action.



Date: 30/04/2012 16:43:11 by Dave Bracegirdle
In: Today | Nottinghamshire | Lancashire |