Lancashire are relegated

6:20am Monday 15th September 2008

Lancashire have been relegated from the top flight of the Pro40 League following yesterday’s three-wicket defeat to Somerset at Liverpool.

The Red Rose county’s batsmen failed again, but at least managed to muster 156 all out thanks to Glen Chapple’s 33.

On a seaming wicket, coupled with some movement through the air, the Lightning had something to bowl at.

And their seamers really put Somerset under the pump in reply – and managed to restrict their run-rate to a stage where the visitors needed 16 runs from the final two overs, and eight from the last.

Carl Gazzard hit a vital 30 not out to marshal a recovery from 121-7, while South African all-rounder Alfonso Thomas hit the winning runs with two balls to spare off the left-arm spin of Gary Keedy.

“People all over the country will be having a laugh at us because we are a big club who have been relegated,” said Lancashire captain Stuart Law. “But the lads should be very proud how we have played in the last two games.”

Tom Smith was the pick of Lancashire’s bowlers with 2-25 from his eight overs, while Chapple, Oliver Newby and Steven Croft all picked up a wicket each. Keedy recorded 2-31 from 7.4 overs.

The day started in the worst possible way for Lancashire when Somerset captain Justin Langer won the toss and elected to bowl first in helpful conditions.

And young Sabres’ seamer Mark Turner was their pick with 3-39 from his allotted eight overs, while Thomas, Peter Trego and Zander de Bruyn took two wickets.

Lou Vincent, Steven Croft (20), Francois Du Plessis, Gareth Cross and Smith (18) were all guilty of poor shots for Lancashire.

But it could have been so different for Lancs, as Law explained: “The coin hit the mascot on the shoulder, and came down heads. Langer had called tails. So I did the right thing. The second came down tails.”

Keedy has been one of Lancashire’s most improved batsmen this season, and he hit 23 to boost the home total. But to fall to 75-7 was ultimately the deciding factor in this game.

“The batting hasn’t fired,” continued Law. “It means a hell of a lot. Lancashire is a big club, and we don’t want anything to go wrong. We want our cricket to stand up.”

The Pro40 League will be abolished at the end of the 2009 season.

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