Lancs duo seek revival

May 2 2009

Ashwell Prince and Mark Chilton set about saving the game for Lancashire after three early wickets on day four gave Nottinghamshire a sniff of an LV County Championship Division One victory.

Resuming on one without loss in their second innings and needing another 177 to avoid an innings defeat, Lancashire were in trouble after losing three wickets for 11 runs. Tom Smith (seven) was first to go to the economical Luke Fletcher, before England seamer Ryan Sidebottom removed Paul Horton for 14.

Fletcher claimed his second lbw to dismiss Faf du Plessis, but Prince (27 not out) and Chilton, who faced 44 runs for his unbeaten four, saw Lancashire reach lunch at 63 for three.

The other Division One game looked to be heading for a draw, despite Hampshire bowling out Sussex at the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire would have had hopes of forcing a victory as Sussex resumed on 230 for six in their first innings, still 120 behind, especially when Robin Martin-Jenkins fell to Billy Taylor for 16.

But England wicketkeeper Prior added 28 to his overnight 112, before Damien Wright (42) and Ragheb Aga (24) put on 55 for the ninth wicket to help Sussex reach 336, a first-innings deficit of just 14.

In Division Two, a century from Darren Stevens helped Kent establish a big lead as they attempted an unlikely win against Essex in Chelmsford.

Having been asked to follow on, Kent were 391 for five overnight and they reached 510 for nine by lunch, a lead of 345 runs.

Stevens and overnight partner James Hockley added 166 for the sixth wicket before the latter was finally dismissed for 72 by Chris Wright.

Stevens was unbeaten on 134 at the interval, despite four wickets from Essex leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.