A near miss and so close to a draw
At Old Trafford we were never considered to have a chance but when Pearce found the top edge putting it straight though to Livingstone at 2nd slip Lancashire were at 1 for 1! We but them back to 96/3 and then 106/4 with Hulme on 2 overs 3 runs for 2 wickets. and at 137/5 ,a great catch low to Johns' left but Lancs at 165/6 with D Law in 173/7 took Law out and when Byas edged to the cordon it was 188/8 and a Rutland win possible and at 203/8 off the 45 overs we just need Sachin to shine and we should win.
Sachin hit 86 ,hulme and Smith both got into the 20's but in the most saddening of chases we lost by 3 runs needing 6 off the last over and 4 off the last ball.
So close yet so far
Our next match was at The Luffenham Oval against Glamorgan,we batted first but Sachin was out for 25 never a good thing but Hulme and Smith could be consistent but it dropped away to 85/7 with Smith the opener still in on 31.Smith went and we struggled to 135 all out.
The new ball was again used well with Pearce getting a wicket in his first over making the score 6/1. But then Glamorgan went on a rampage,Dravid getting his 100 and James getting out for 71,Dravid carried on untill he was out for 151 leaving them at 269/3,we recovered a bit 288/4 and 303/5 but we really needed a draw to come but we crumbled to 401/6 and 452/7 but they declared at 507/7 372 ahead.
We were at 80/1 at Lunch but Smith was out first over afterward. Hulme made a handy 17,he was not in the best of form,at 140-3 Sachin needed to make at least a century,it was then 160-4 then 176-5 ,Sachin scored his century off 287 balls and left the score at 222/6.
He was at 125 not out at stumps with the team on 247/6-125 behind.
The score was then 254/8and Sachin started keeping the strike. Sachin got his 200 of exactly 500 balls,but then Johns goes Glamorgan knock off the runs and we lose by 10 wickets .
