Warwickshire triumph in closest of finishes

Dougie Brown and Neil Smith guided Warwickshire to a famous victory in a classic Benson and Hedges semi-final with Lancashire at Old Trafford on Friday. It was a game which does justice to 31 years of the competition, which ends this year. The pair, both England internationals, added 60 from 64 balls for the seventh wicket as the visitors held their nerve in an incredible finish.But it was Neil Carter, Warwickshire’s pseudo Englishman, playing on a Britishpassport, who swept his first ball – and the final ball of the match – for four to hand Warwickshire victory by one wicket. Carter, who pinch-hits for his county occasionally, was unfazed and ran off the field to embrace Brown who had fallen victim to Andrew Flintoff’s wonderful arm from the penultimate ball.Brown and Smith came together after a flurry of wickets had threatened to stop Warwickshire’s victory chase in its tracks. With a mixture of power hitting and deft touches, they kept the visitors in the game and the run rate manageable. John Wood, who had bowled with admirable accuracy, conceded two boundaries in his final over. Kyle Hogg conceded another four, which would have been six had Graham Lloyd not brilliantly palmed the ball back at long-off. Next ball, Smith went for another big shot and was easily caught at long-on for 29.Ashley Giles was well caught by Mark Chilton at point, leaving Warwickshireneeding more than a run a ball with two wickets left. Brown kept his cool, then Carter ensured his picture would make tomorrow’s papers with a boys’ own final ball.Chasing 212 for victory on a sluggish pitch, Warwickshire’s reply fluctuatedthroughout. Glen Chapple removed Nick Knight, nibbling outside the off stump, in his first over. Shaun Pollock found the off-side boundary before Lancashire captain Warren Hegg brilliantly stumped the South African down the leg-side.Jim Troughton joined Ian Bell, who looked like settling down for the long haul. Troughton, the 23-year-old who hit a century and a fifty in Warwickshire’s last Championship game, was the more expansive partner. He hit beautifully through the off-side, as left-handers tend to do, punishing any width with a gleeful flourish. Bell’s settled technique will see him representing England in the near future, and he was content to nudge singles. The pair added 60 before Chris Schofield, who looked more minor counties than Test match bowler, trapped Troughton leg before.Just as Bell was threatening a match-winning innings, he hooked the accurate Wood to 18-year-old Hogg, who took a fine running catch in the deep. Trevor Penney soon followed, and with Andrew Flintoff working up some pace, it was looking like a glum trip home for the Bears. But Brown and Smith, both consummate county performers, were not prepared to lie down and took Warwickshire towards victory with some old fashioned hitting.Unfortunately, the impact of an excellent century will be diminished. Chilton, Lancashire’s 25-year-old opener, continued his good form in the competition with 101. Hegg must have questioned his decision to bat first after Lancashire slumped to 36-3 on a cloudy Manchester morning in front of a crowd more interested in the fortunes of England’s football team. Realising his limitations, and those of the sluggish track, Chilton set himself up to bat through the innings. Though he only hit four boundaries in his 146 ball knock, it was a fascinating century. The innings earned him the Man of the Match award, the scantest conciliation.Chilton was educated at Manchester Grammar, Michael Atherton’s old school, and batted with an uncomplicated stubbornness which Atherton would have admired. He was unfazed when Smith dropped a sitter, and he was lucky to win the benefit of the doubt on several leg before decisions. Uncomfortable against the spinners, Chilton nevertheless utilised a chip shot, over the infield but bouncing before the sweepers, to good effect.Chilton found an ally in Flintoff, whose 41 was compiled with uncharacteristic patience. The pair added 89 in 21 overs, Flintoff’s only extravagance an edged straight six from Giles’ bowling. Giles and Smith kept good control after Pollock had been wonderfully miserly in his opening spell.Mini contributions followed down the order from Graham Lloyd, who tried every variation of the reverse sweep in his 18, and Hegg, who snicked a couple of boundaries. Pollock finished the innings off with two wickets in two balls and figures of 4/27 which did not flatter him. His length at the death was admirable. Carter also bowled well, picking up three wickets, including the dangerous Neil Fairbrother. At the interval the game looked closely balanced. Despite this, such thrilling conclusions are rarities to be savoured. In time, even the Lancashire players will realise they were in a terrific game.Warwickshire will play Essex in the last Benson and Hedges final on Saturday22nd June.