History-making skipper Glen Chapple insists his side’s astonishing annihilation of Essex will live long in the memory, after Lancashire bowled their hosts out for just 20.
The Red Rose won their thirdLV=County Championship division two match of the season as the Chelmsford-based county were dispatched by an innings and 105 runs.
The score of 20 is the lowest tally the Old Trafford club have dismissed a team for in their 149-year existence, with Chapple believing Lancashire were simply on top of their game.
“It’s definitely one of the best days of cricket I’ve had in my career because things just don’t happen like that,” he told Lancashire’s official website.
“There’s no point in trying to explain what happened – everything that could have gone for us did so.
“We know that wickets can go quickly because the new man is under pressure, but you don’t often see the whole team succumbing in that sense.
“In terms of it being memorable, it’s right up there.”
Chapple and Kyle Hogg would later fire Lancashire to glory with the ball, but day three saw the pair staring with the bat.
The game was in the balance asLancashire started proceedings seven runs shy of Essex’s first innings total of 273 with only three batsmen remaining.
And a substantial lead was in doubt as former Australian international Simon Katich was dismissed early having made an impressive 122 – his first century in Lancashire colours.
However, lower-order contributions of 58 from Hogg, 50 not out from Chapple and 31 from Simon Kerrigan meant the Red Rose had a commanding lead of 125.
Chapple and Hogg then reunited to destroy Essex, routing them for the lowest score in county cricket sinceSurreywere dismissed atChelmsfordin May 1963 for 14.
Lancashire’s veteran captain returned figures of 5-9 while Hogg snared four Essex wickets for just 11 runs as their hosts were all out inside 15 overs.
And Hogg believesLancashire’s late batting rally was the catalyst for the amazing scenes which followed.
“They were still in the game in the morning,” he said.
“We were seven down, but we batted well and those partnerships at the end really knocked the stuffing out of them.
“I know as a bowler there is nothing worse than not being able to get nine, ten and 11 out when they’re scoring runs.
“The momentum was with us and we knew if we knocked a few over early on, they’d be under pressure big time.”
Earlier in the piece,Lancashire bowled Essex out for 273 in their first innings, as captain James Foster top-scored with a knock of 82.
He was ably supported by Ryan ten Doeschate who scored 77, while Graham Napier and Red Rose old boy Sajid Mahmood hung around as the hosts recovered from 72-5.
Chapple took three wickets while there were two apiece for Luke Procter, Hogg and Kerrigan – who accounted for both Foster and ten Doeschate.
In reply, Katich’s century was the standout score for Lancashire– who gave a first-class debut to Luis Reece – while there was also a half-century for South African Ashwell Prince.
The visitors secured 23 points from this encounter as their quest for promotion gathers pace, with Hogg believing the scale of their achievement will only be fully realised in time.
“We’ve been involved in a piece of history and that’s what you play the game for,” he added.
“Such days make up for all the bad days – it was unreal and will probably sink-in in a few weeks.”
Picture courtesy of ecbcricket, via YouTube, with thanks.
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