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Abandoned no play again back for the real game 28/8/2017

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Interesting news Lancashire have offered Steve Finn a long term contract

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Lancashire v Warwickshire @ Old Trafford 28/8/2017 to 31/8/2017

First four day game at OT since the middle of June against a struggling Warwickshire side who if we are to make a sustained push to catch leaders Essex we need to be winning this game.
Warwickshire have struggled badly this season although form seems to be picking up a bit recently, still be a tough ask to avoid relegation.
Captain Ian Bell resigned due to poor form with the bat being replaced by Jonathon Trott, although they have had a poor season in the Championship they have managed to reach the pub league final.
Lancs apart from Anderson should have a full strength side to pick from so it could be a rare County appearence for the lesser spotted Buttler.
The ever up to date Lancashire web site has no news on anything regarding the match and neither has the Warwickshire site, so cannot give any teams news. Hoping to be there from Tuesday so may even do a match blog.

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Warwickshire 200 Lancashire 114-3

Six wickets for Jarvis although apparently didn't bowl brilliantly they were 119-8, Livingstone 41 not out for Lancs on a wicket which seems to favour the bowlers .

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Warwickshire 200 Lancashire 484-6

Well we are not losing this one, long day chasing leather for Warwick, Parry 43, Chanderpaul 95 will be disappointed getting out after a masterclass, Buttler swung merrily for 49 whilst Livingstone rarely looked in trouble for a career best of 215 not out, personal view declare overnight gives us two days to win game

[themaclad]

Warwick 200/274-6 Lancs 504-8d

Livingstone ended up on 224 as Lancs batted on until rain came before declaring, decent start by the visitors 40 plus for first wicket, but Lancs worked their way through the visitors batting order possibly the last time Bell and Trott play at OT. Decent fighting unbeaten half century by Ambrose but Lancs in pole position for a title push

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Absolutely hammering down were I live this morning and has been since well before 4am if this heads towards Manchester there is little chance of any play fingers crossed it will stay dry

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Warwick 344 all out Ambrose made 104, Lancs need 41 to win whilst Essex appear to be making short work of Somerset

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Won by 8 wickets

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Luke Proctor on loan to Northamptonshire

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Lancashire v Essex @ Old Trafford 5/9/2017 to 8/9/2017

A possible title decider at Old Trafford as Lancashire take on leaders Essex with four games to go the Southern Countyb have a useful 36 point lead, Lancashire could do with a victory in this match although the forecast for tomorrow is shocking so a draw looks a likely result which would suit Essex.
Sadly can only go tomorrow as I'm back at work Wednesday which is indeed a blow, the game is the 5 live extra commentary so headphones at the ready from Wednesday.A surprise package this season having been newly promoted Essex could be on course for their first title since Graham Gooch had short trousers (1992)

As per norm nowt on the Lancs website here's what Essex have to say

Pace-setters Essex meet nearest pursuers Lancashire at Old Trafford starting on Tuesday in the race for the Specsavers County Championship Division One title.

After a fifth successive win in the competition this year with the victory over Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground, Essex took the tally of wins to seven and remain unbeaten with just four matches remaining.

The Red Rose county also recorded a win in their last match when they beat Warwickshire and that left them 36 points adrift of the league leaders.

Chris Silverwood was naturally a proud man after watching his team brush aside a Somerset side after the home side had trailed by 5 runs on first innings. This was after losing the services of Mohammad Amir who was sidelined with a back spasm sustained during the early stages of the Somerset first innings.

However, fellow paceman Jamie Porter stepped forward to spearhead the attack. He took seven Somerset wickets in the second innings, taking his haul for the match to 12 and on the way, recorded his 50th Championship wicket of the summer.

“We showed great character,” the Essex Head Coach admitted. “Going into the last day, we knew we had a lot of hard work ahead but Nick Browne, Adam Wheater and Tendo [Ryan ten Doeschate] got runs on the board for us. Then, being a bowler down, for Ports to step up and do what he did was absolutely fantastic.

“So there were some good individual performances but Jamie’s was the stand-out one. To force the victory from where we were at one stage and with the loss of virtually a day’s play was incredible and the boys keep showing us they can find ways of winning.

“That’s what good teams do and these guys are turning into a good team.”

Looking ahead had to the Lancashire game, he continued, “We’ve got a nice healthy gap points wise between us and them, and it does give us a bit of a breathing space but there is a massive game in prospect next week when we play at Old Trafford.

“We are really looking forward to the contest and as I say, it should be a cracking match.

“We can’t wait to get started.”

Essex squad to face Lancashire:

Varun Chopra (27) Captain
James Foster (7) Wicket Keeper
Mohammad Amir (5)
Nick Browne (10)
Simon Harmer (11)
Sam Cook (16)
Paul Walter (22)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Matt Dixon (30)
Adam Wheater (31)
Jamie Porter (44)
Callum Taylor (67)
Ashar Zaidi (99)

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Glen Chapple has named a thirteen man squad for Lancashire's top of the table Specsavers County Championship clash against Essex, starting tomorrow at Emirates Old Trafford.

Lancashire currently sit second, behind Essex, in the Division One table with four games remaining.

Lancashire Squad

Steven Croft ©, Tom Bailey, Jos Buttler, Shiv Chanderpaul, Jordan Clark, Alex Davies, Haseeb Hameed, Kyle Jarvis, Liam Livingstone, Ryan McLaren, Matthew Parkinson, Stephen Parry, Dane Vilas