Euphoric Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple was thrilled with his side’s dramatic first LV=County Championship victory of the season over Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay.
The Red Rose looked to be heading for defeat until Chapple and spinner Simon Kerrigan shared nine second innings wickets to secure an unlikely win.
And the 39-year-old was under no illusions how close Lancashire came to losing to their Welsh counterparts, although praised his colleagues for grinding out a positive result.
“It’s a brilliant win. When you win games like that, it’s a terrific feeling and a great boost for the lads who’ve worked so hard,” he told Lancashire’s official website.
“It’s been a difficult week in some ways because we haven’t played our best cricket, but we hung on in all the way and kept believing – it’s a victory we’ll remember for a long time.
“We were on the brink of losing this one, and that would have been difficult to take. We hung in, and things finally turned for us. There’s always a chance.”
Lancashire were chasing the game from the start after recording a paltry 123 all out in their first innings with only opener Luke Procter reaching 20.
Murray Goodwin then led the Glamorgan charge with a solid 67 as the home side posted 242, with Kerrigan the pick of the Lancashire bowlers with 4-48.
After Simon Katich notched a half-century, Peter Moores’s side were indebted to lower order contributions from Kyle Hogg, Gareth Cross and Chapple to post a total to bowl at.
Chasing 154 for victory, Glamorgan were cruising at 103-3 before collapsing with William Bragg putting the visiting attack to the sword, something Chapple took to heart.
“We had a terrible start with the ball. I bowled two of the worst overs I’ve bowled for a long time, and we were in trouble,” he added.
“I had some making up to do because I was embarrassed by my first two overs. You can either sulk, which I probably did for a couple of overs, or get stuck in.
“Thankfully I managed to do that. The whole team were always positive and believed we could get something.”
Chapple ended with figures of 4-64, ably supporting Preston-born Kerrigan who claimed the final wicket of Michael Hogan to complete a five-wicket haul.
And Lancashire’s skipper hopes this triumph – similar to many the Emirates Old Trafford club produced in 2011 on their way to the county championship – kickstarts a summer of success.
“Close victories are massive in seasons,” he said.
“This could have been two draws and a loss. We were 14 runs away from that.
“This now puts us in a decent position. It will help us kick on. In terms of exciting wins this is right up there.”
Lancashire claimed 19 points from the clash, which after consecutive draws against Worcestershire and Kent sees them third in Division Two.
Image courtesy of Cricketworldmedia, via YouTube, with thanks
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