Worcestershire crushed Lancashire by 109 runs under the Old Traffordfloodlights to move four points clear at the top of the Norwich Union SecondDivision

Andy Wilson18-Jul-2001Worcestershire crushed Lancashire by 109 runs under the Old Traffordfloodlights to move four points clear at the top of the Norwich Union SecondDivision.The Royals compiled a daunting total of 236 for five in their 45 oversthanks mainly to a League-best 80 from opener Anurag Singh.Lancashire had slumped to 63 for five in reply even before the Old Traffordfloodlights had taken effect and were all out for 127, with three wicketseach for Kabir Ali and David Leatherdale.Graeme Hick won the toss for the Royals and chose to bat, but they lostPhil Weston in the 11th over, lbw to Peter Martin.Hick looked in good form as he struck two boundaries but he was then runout after a mix-up with Singh, giving Lancashire the wicket they wanted.But Singh made amends in a third-wicket stand of 71 in 17 overs with VikramSolanki.Solanki, Worcestershire’s leading scorer this season, took his tally to 293with a classy 45 from 52 balls including four fours and a flicked six offGary Keedy.Keedy claimed some revenge when he had Solanki caught by John Crawley atcover, but David Leatherdale then came in to hit a quick 24 includinganother six off Keedy.And Australian all-rounder Andy Bichel then provided extra acceleration in theclosing overs, ending unbeaten on 36 from 24 balls with a six and fourfours.Singh was the last man out, stumped off Chris Schofield in the 44th overafter ending a poor run of form which had brought him only 65 in eightNational League innings this season.Schofield had been the unlucky bowler when Singh survived a stumping chanceon 30 in the 22nd over, but otherwise the 25-year-old played sensibly andhit eight fours in a new League best off 121 balls, beating the 74 he scoredin his Warwickshire days.Lancashire were soon in trouble when they replied, with Bichel having MarkChilton caught behind.But it was Kabir Ali who fired the crucial blow, trapping Amdy Flintoff andJohn Crawley lbw with consecutive balls.Glen Chapple did his best for Lancashire with 34 from 47 balls but he alsowent lbw to Ali, who ended with three for 37 from his nine overs.And Leatherdale took three of the last four wickets at a cost of only 11runs to virtually end Lancashire’s hopes of bouncing straight back to theFirst Division.