Result – Lancashire won by 271 runs
Shropshire 108/10 (30.1overs)
M Bailey 26
Tyler Preece 2-6
Tom Meskell 2-7
Lancashire 379/4 (40.0overs)
Tom Meskell 221*
Adam Finneran 61
T Wallace 2-51
With Rain in the morning, meant that the covers were on the wicket prior to arrival (Huge shoutout to Adam Marshall for doing this) and the start of play was delayed by 20mins.
Losing the toss, Lancashire were invited to bat on the previous days wicket which had unfortunately taken some of the morning rain so could prove a difficult road to bat on.
Tom Meskell was promoted to opening the innings alongside Captain Adam Finneran who was returning from injury.
The pair settled in early with the captain leading the way with movement and timing to punish the loose ball, piercing the field and finding the boundary rope, 25 runs coming from the first 4 overs.
Meskell was struggling a little with timing but dug in and battled through the early attack from Vickers and Harrison before leaning into a delivery and despatching through the covers for 4 and bringing up the 50 partnership in 50 balls in the 9th Over.
Tom now regained his confidence and belief and took over the lead role finding the boundary on many occasions, he reached his 50 in 43 balls and 49 minutes striking 6x4s and 2x6s.
The pair continued to rotate the strike and reached the hundred partnership in the 13th over to the delight of many of their squad members, Finneran now sitting back providing the supporting role would go on to his half century shortly afterwards having faced 46 balls and hitting 8x4s.
A change of bowling saw Bailey and Rigby come into the attack, slowing down the rate slightly but the pair worked through and reached the 150 mark in 19.1 overs.
Shropshire continued to work tirelessly in the field despite the onslaught and got their reward with the last ball of the over as Ewan Woodhouse held onto the catch from Finneran (61) off the bowling of Callum Rigby to break up the partnership 160/1.
Lewis Duncan Brown came in at no.3 to make his first outing of the season following injury and exams and looked to settle into his role backed by club mate Meskell, Lewis got off the mark with a cut through point to the boundary.
Tom at the other end continued to score freely and was now in a position to try different things to put the bowlers off their rhythm and maintain the run rate.
Brown was shortly trapped LBW having added 25 runs to the total with his partnership with Meskell at the start of the 23rd over, bringing Harris to the crease, who was looking to quickly put his last innings behind him and return to scoring ways.
Meskell was now in the mood to score runs and brought up his hundred in 76 balls (14x4s and 3x6s) at the same time the pair brought up the 50 partnership.
Harris was soon to depart for 20 returning a catch to the bowler Thomas Wallace, bringing Liam Griffiths to the middle to support Tom as Lancashire continued to dominate the game, Liam using his experience to rotate strike and allow his partner the freedom to keep going.
Lancashire reached the 250 run mark after 28.4 overs, before Meskell would then go on to reach his 150 off 105 balls and he was still in the mood to score more. Credit to the Shropshire fielders as they kept battling along trying everything they could to stem the flow. 300 up after 34 overs, Griffiths departed for 15, allowing the inform McIntyre to join Meskell at the crease to see out the remainder of the innings and more importantly be there for Meskell’s 130th ball, which was driven through cover to the boundary taking him to 200 runs and a huge ovation by the travelling support.
Tom would go on now to his career best 221 not out and Lancashire closed on 379/4 from their 40 overs.
Following a cracking tea, the boys in red could see the weather turning and knew they needed to get 15 overs in to get a result.
Shropshire had a mammoth task ahead but came out ready to give it a go, taking on the opening pair of Joel Harris and Lewis Duncan-Brown.
The home side reached 29 before Harris opened his account bowling Wallace with the 3rd delivery of his 4th over. The rain was now coming down and it wasn’t long before Lewis picked up his 1st wicket in league disability league cricket, bowling Pickford for 4 after 7.2overs.
The umpires called the players to leave the field and the covers were brought on, Lancshire still needing to complete a further 8 overs.
Luckily the rains eased and the covers removed allowing play to resume at 6:15pm, having lost 6 overs the target was revised meaning the hosts needed 354 runs from their 34 overs.
Meskell entered the attack and wasn’t content with his input to the game so far, he bowled opener Adam Marshall for 25, leaving the hosts 43/3 in reply. Woodhouse and the important wicket of Rigby soon followed as Griffiths kept composed and under the ball to take the catch off Meskell 45/5. Lancashire now needed to turn the screw with 4 overs still needed to confirm the game.
Matthew Bailey and Damon Morris, ensured it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for the visitors and put on 33 for the 6th wicket.
Tyler Preece replaced Meskell and soon got in on the act bowling the dangerous Bailey for 26, and the next over O’Neill was on the board as Tony Foster dived full length to hold on to an edge at the 2nd attempt 78/7 and the skies cleared allowing Lancashire the chance to give all the bowlers some action. Tyler picked up his 2nd wicket and Billy Gartside bowled wicketkeeper Ingram for 7. 93/9, could the red rose side dismiss the hosts for less than 100.
Jack Hughes wrapped up the innings and the win for Lancashire bowling Harrison for 4. 108 all out and victory to head back up the road with.
Neighbours Cheshire beat league leaders Wales allowing Lancashire to close the gap to 5 points with a game in hand.
Table
1 - Cricket Wales – 103
2 - Lancashire – 98
3 - Cheshire – 77
4 - Yorkshire – 65
5 - Shropshire – 23
Lancashire host Yorkshire in the next round of Quest league fixtures at Southport and Birkdale CC on Sunday 6th July before closing the league season with a return fixture against Cheshire on 20th July at Kirkham and Wesham CC
Next week the Development team host Warwickshire at Mawdsley CC, come along and support the boys