Lancashire: Hopes are in Surrey hands (18 Sep 1998)

18 September 1998

Hopes are in Surrey hands

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Lancashire put their championship hopes in the hands of Surrey's batsmen today.

By being bowled out for 185 on the first day of their last game against Hampshire, and therefore failing to take a batting point, Lancashire left the way open for Leicestershire to clinch the title with a draw against Surrey at The Oval.

Leicester guaranteed themselves maximum batting points by reaching 349-4 on the first day against Surrey, and needed only three bowling points - seven wickets - to take themselves out of reach.

But Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons has not given up hope.

"We could have done with one batting point to make Leicestershire need maximum bowling points," he admitted.

"But Surrey aren't a bad batting team, especially with Graham Thorpe back from injury. Let's hope they can do us a favour. I've not given up yet."

Lancashire fought back from their batting disaster to put themselves in pole position against Hampshire, skipper Wasim Akram bowling a blistering spell of 3-14 in nine overs to reduce them to 23-4.

But Hampshire closed in the Lancashire target today, reaching 167-9, Kevan James and Shaun Udal both providing stubborn resistance.

Leicestershire's progress was delayed by rain at The Oval and overnight centurion Aftab Habib was an early casualty but the leaders then stormed on, making 414-5 with Ben Smith unbeaten on 179.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (http://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)

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