West Indies A draw with Lancashire

Sean Beynon

July 13, 2002

A thrilling cameo from Graham Lloyd helped to revive the final day of Lancashire's tour match with West Indies A at Liverpool. Lloyd hammered a quick-fire 77 but could not prevent the game petering out into a draw.

Lloyd, who made 68 in the first innings, played shots all round the wicket. He faced only 94 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six. Lancashire closed on 265 for 3, never attempting to chase down 452.

Daren Ganga declared on the West Indian overnight score of 361 for five. Had Ganga not delayed the declaration, and put Lancashire in for ten overs last night, the home side would have faced a tough task to save the game. As it was, Lancashire needed simply to blunt a lackadaisical bowling attack.

The Aigburth pitch was still playing true on the fourth morning, the showers of yesterday clearing to a fine morning. Openers Mark Currie and Alec Swann opted for batting practice. Currie, a 22-year-old on a summer contract, gave nothing to an accurate attack that lacked penetration.

At the other end, Alec Swann was typically unhurried. The brother of England international Graeme, Swann left Northamptonshire for Lancashire last year. He has struggled to get into the first team, and was anxious not to lose his wicket.

Reon King was accurate but lacked a yard of pace, with the visiting attack sometimes seeming simply to go through the motions.

The pair batted unflustered until lunch, with Currie forced to retire hurt two runs short of a maiden half-century. The right-hander hit four boundaries from 143 balls in a determined stay at the crease.

Swann also fell just short of fifty, clean bowled by Darren Powell for 45. The 25-year-old faced 125 balls, and found the boundary on seven occasions. The breakthrough was too late though, as Byas and Lloyd continued unflustered.

Byas, who had retired from cricket before sensationally joining Lancashire after 15 years with Yorkshire, made 39 in 61 balls before being yorked by Tino Best. When Ryan Hinds disturbed Lloyd's woodwork soon after, the visitors' retained a small chance of victory.

Ryan Driver's unbeaten 16 and wicket-keeper Jamie Haynes' (7 not out) assuaged all thoughts of a collapse, as play was mercifully called off early by mutual consent of the captains. The West Indians will have gained confidence from a game which they dominated and should - with assured captaincy - have won.

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Matches

West Indies A v Lancashire

Series/Tournaments

West Indies A tour of England

Teams

Lancashire

West Indies

Grounds

Aigburth