Ganguly, Schofield shine

By P. Subramanyam

LONDON, MAY 12. Lancashire County Cricket Club managed to score a respectable 263 all out against Durham County Cricket Club on the first day of the four-day match for PPP Healthcare County Championship match at Riverside in Chester-le-Street on Thursday afternoon.

Put into bat by Durham Lancashire was soon in trouble as it lost the prize wickets of M.A. Atherton (25), J.P. Crawley (5), A. Flintoff (10) and Neil Fairbrother (2) for only 59. But a watchful S. Ganguly, who made 73, (164b, 3x4s, 2x6s), in the company of C.P. Schofield, a prospective England candidate almost certain to be named for the first Test at Lord's commencing next week as a leg-spinner, added 78 valuable runs for the sixth wicket.

After Ganguly's departure, Schofield, a left-hander, went on to make a fine 50 facing only 72 balls, hitting three fours, before he was unfortunately run out. Former England medium pacer, P.J. Martin made a useful 40 to add to Lancashire's total.

Match abandoned

The touring Zimbabwean side was prevented from getting any more match practice before next week's first Test starting on Thursday at Lord's as the first day's play of the four-day match against Essex County Cricket Club for the Vodafone Challenge Series at Chelmsford was abandoned due to rain on Thursday.

The scores: Lancashire 263 in 80 overs (S. Ganguly 73, C.P. Schofield 50, P.J. Martin 40, S.J. Harrison four for 74, M.M. Betts three for 52) vs Durham 60 for two in 22 overs.

Somerset 262 in 101.5 overs (M.E. Trescothick 105, I.D. Blackwell 58, J. Ormond three for 79, P.A.J. DeFritas three for 49) vs Leicester three for no loss.

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