The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 15

SPORTS NEWS 15 'tiiiirauiiiitiiti MwimBiHMMHiiiiaiaiiiiiiieiiimim US Open: Faldo fails to capture the game's most cherished double Giraiin)9 iraaiffDu ltd lite hi odd da its Iboaircfl THE GUARDIAN Tuesday June 21 1988 Golf SMIItll II 111 Mi the tiny green and it carried too far, running into the two-inch DavM Davtaw at Broofclliw drama of the play that had led up to it. Faldo was intent on keeping to the game plan that had worked so well for him during the week. That meant hitting fairways even if it involved taking shorter clubs off the tee, but it also meant, necessarily, aiming at some very small greens with some very long irons, and in the end it failed him. He bogeyed three of the last four holes as his challenge disintegrated over the final nine. His best position over the home holes was when the American bogeyed the 12th and Faldo got back to one down, but it lasted only one hole.

Strange, slowly sinking to his knees as the ball got closer to the cup, birdied the 13th from 22 feet and that was compounded by the fact that Faldo, who had missed the fairway, then three-putted from the back of the severely sloping green. He was three down with five to play and now he had to rely on some help from the opposition as well as play well himself. Neither was forthcoming. He got a stroke back at the long 14th, where Strange could only get a par, but he played the 15th as badly as Strange, both bogeying, and he played the 17th with real lack of thought He had taken an iron off the tee all week, and did so again when he really had to gamble. Woe is Walsh as Greenidge misses a sharp slip chance to remove Lamb, the one England batsman in aggressive mood yesterday photograph: frank baron Second Cornhill Test; England West Indies, fourth day A defiant Lamb the only batsman refusing to be Marshalled to the slaughter 1 OSTON rejected the I British back in 1773 I land yesterday, at a tee I party of a totally different type, they confirmed that nothing mdch has changed.

At The Country Club at Brookline, near Boston, Massachusetts, Curtis Strange beat Nick Faldo in an 18-hole play-off for the US Open Championship. In front of a teeming, screaming, swarming and above all sweating gallery of around 10,000 people, of whom no more than a fraction could see anything at any one time, Strange returned a 71 to Faldo's 75 and was never behind. He answered all the questions about his temperament and at the same time denied Faldo the chance join an exclusive club of champions who have held the Open and US Open titles at the same time. The most recent is Tony Jacklin, of course, and the others are Harry Vardon, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Tre-vino and Tom Watson. Faldo also lost 50,000, that being the difference between the first prize of 100,000 and the second.

Strange took his dollar earnings this season to 548,525 which makes him second in the US money list to Sandy Lyle. Yet this play-off lacked the Motor Racing to the Third Test at Old Trafford, said he wanted Gatting back in the side. "He must come into consideration because he is such a good player." The TCCB has postponed Friday's special meeting to discuss the West Indies proposal for a Test ban on players maintaining links with South Africa. toll its knell, England had slumped to 214 for seven. A biblical deluge is surely the only way that they can avoid going to Old Trafford next week one down.

But there is some news to warm the cockles. The exception to this mayhem was Allan Lamb, the great survivor, who, Mansel I wi ns fans not poi nts back foot, an away swinger maybe to get him reaching, then the strike. He has taken 16 wickets so far this series, including his three yesterday, of which 12 have been either lbw or clean bowled. Gooch was first to go, lbw, and he did not even bother to look at the umpire. Two overs later, Broad, left-handed of course, edged a perfectly pitched away swinger to Dujon.

When Gower edged Patterson low to Richardson at third slip in the following over Gower seeking a ruling on the catch England were floundering at 31 for three and facing humiliation. Lamb had other ideas. It was his 34th birthday yesterday, so maybe he felt lucky. He thumped Patterson through mid-off to set him on his way, and generally opted thereafter to have a dart at anything remotely hittable. As always, the bottom hand was much in evidence in his cutting, forcing off the back foot and the flicks through mid-wicket, and as his innings progressed, so did the swagger return to his play.

Importantly too he found an what could be done. But one stupid moment wrecked it all. Moxon played a ball firmly to midwicket and set off for a single. Lamb's warning was heeded too late by Moxon who, turning, was unable to beat Patterson's direct hit. Pringle followed soon after, another lbw victim, before Lamb was lent further support, first by Downton, with a brave 27, and then by Emburey, who made 30 with his usual blend of the sublime and ridiculous before being dismissed by a full toss deflected painfully from his glove on to the stumps.

Lamb's eighth four took him to his first Test fifty in 25 starts. He needed three from the final over of the day to reach his hundred, but Richards's psychology and Marshall's skill denied him. In the morning the England seamers had run through West Indies by bowling straight, with Dujon, Marshall and Walsh all losing timber. It was a shame, though, for Logie, who has gone some way in this game to cementing the Test place to which he has clung largely on the strength of his short-leg fielding. Twice later he spilled reflex catches.

One cannot have everything. John Emburey, whose captaincy was extended yesterday He had to hit a long iron into his options open for several weeks yet. His two-year deal with Frank Williams expires at end of this year and Williams said: "I've made Nigel a firm offer and I really hope he accepts it and stays with us." Yet, this endorsement notwithstanding, there have been times over the last couple of seasons when Mansell has felt team have treated him like second-class citizen. This was most apparent last season alongside his former partner Nelson Piquet, who, though nominally the No. 1 driver, was seldom as quick on the track.

Added to this is his dissatisfaction with the computer-controlled, reactive suspension system, which continued to cause problems at Detroit. The 1989 rough. He stood on the fairway, arms uplifted, saying "Where's the wind?" but the error had been made before, on the tee. He had little chance from the back of getting any closer than he did, 10 feet, and his bogey meant that Strange had a three-shot advantage for the final noie. He did not need them.

For the first time during the Champion ship Strange found the green with his second, Faldo not only bunkered but plugged his ball in the sand and another bogey was the best he could do. Strange had gone in front as early as the third hole, where Faldo bunkered his second and from an awkward stance failed to get the ball any closer than 15 feet. Then Strange did precisely the same thing at the fourth to go back to all square before hitting a soft eight iron to eight feet at the fifth for a birdie and the lead again. Faldo missed the fairway at the fifth, the first time he had done so for 23 holes. At the ninth, though, Faldo had all the chances, hitting three very good shots to eight feet.

Strange was twice in the rough and then on the back edge of the green, but Faldo missed his birdie chance, leaving the putt short, and was out in a par 35 to Strange's 34. car will be designed to race with either this system or conventional suspension. He also has to weigh up the merits of rumoured offers from Benetton and Ferrari, the latter coming despite some badly handled and, as it turned out, abortive negotiations with the Italian team two years ago. As they shape up to Honda next year, Williams know they cannot afford to lose Mansell to another team. From the Englishman's point of view, he appreciates that Williams work to consistently high engineering standards and knows they can challenge again with the right engine.

For that reason alone, while he might, play the, field' in the short terni, he will probably stay with Williams. 100 nf sales transactions ally in Moxon, who dropped anchor at the other end. They put on 74 and showed, with Marshall out of the attack anyway, Mike Sclvey at Lord's la A undue pessi-VI vV mistic England's posi- VF tion after four days of the million-pound Test tne official receipts topped that yesterday could best be described as parlous. Having returned from their weekend sojourn as 25-1 outsiders trailing West Indies, on 354 for five, by 398 runs, they contrived to take the remaining five wickets for 43 runs in 11 overs of the morning session. Gus Logie, 69 overnight, was left stranded on 95 and England were left a grand total of 172 overs in which to chase the 442 required for victory.

It would not haye provided an insurmountable problem in terms of runs per over, but this is not Fantasy Island. No team has made as many as that in the fourth innings of a Test and won, and England are less well equipped than many even to contemplate it; occupation and survival were the order. Alas, with one, major excep tion, the main batting was ab ject in the face of some top flight pace bowling, led yet again by Malcolm Marshall. By the time play finished, with the curfew at least warming up to Warwickshire Kent Keen Kent steal David Foot at Edgbaston BY SPECTACULAR stealth, Kent have climbed to the top of the championship table. They beat Warwickshire yesterday by an innings and 46 runs, and it was their sixth win in a row.

That is stirring midsummer form and it would be churlish to devalue this second-day win by making too much of the fact that, in running through the Warwickshire innings twice yesterday, only 16 wickets needed to be taken. Kallicharran was out with a broken finger, sustained as he went for a slip catch on Saturday. Reeve broke his wrist in practice on Sunday. Both will be missing from the county side for several weeks. All the same, and taking into 'account Kent's presently buoy ant nature ana some challenging bounce and movement at one end, Warwickshire might have offered a more discernible resistance.

The elderly Brummie voice which loudly pleaded: "Come on the nine men" may also have been thinking of distant days at Villa Park. In their first innings War Foster picks a timely moment for EMttaiiim ft SdDflfllKS already hearing the sound of tne selectors' Knives being stropped, returns this morning just one run short of his first Test century for four years. Criticism of the remainder of the England batting must be balanced by the quality of the bowling, the circumstances yesterday and the conditions. It is less easy to bat knowing that survival is the sole objective; once that happens, it becomes restrictive, scoring opportunities are missed and the fielding side can turn the screw. The result is inevitable.

There was pace, too, in the pitch and muggy overcast conditions to compound things. But once again it was Marshall's genius that made the inroads after Gooch and Broad had made 27 not wholly convincing runs for the first wicket, and it was that snaking, skidding in-swinger that did the damage. His technique is masterly; a bouncer or two, if need be, to force the batsman on to the a quick march wickshire made 178 for eight, Moles alone having the fibre for the task. He carried his bat for 67, with 11 fours, extended over 142 minutes. He looked as if he had the mood and technique to carry on, and perhaps remain on the nem tor tne wnoie oi tne match, but after driving Ellison for successive boundaries on both sides of the bowler he was out for 21, clipping off his pads to square leg.

This time Asif Din stroked to a half-century in 107 minutes. reminding us of his additional value to Warwickshire these days at No. 3. Once he slashed at Pienaar and got four over sup, whereupon the bowler, frustration, sent down two wides, one almost fanning the square-leg umpire. Gilford pulled out a couple of token boundaries on cowdrey at the end and earned a slightly ungenerous bouncer for his pains, hardly the way to treat a 48-year-old in his last season.

Kent looked eager. Ellison was curving the ball away, Cowdrey and Penn had their tails up. If the members are be ginning to noa with pleasure and expectancy back at Canterbury, who can blame them muster it might just as well have been. Inevitably it became a question of when Graveney would declare. The decision came when Romaines hit a 16th boundary to complete his first championship century of the season, a thoroughly enjoyable innings.

Gloucestershire had their own attacking problems, with Alderman out and Greene unable to bowl because of an eye infection. It fell on Bainbridge to share the new ball with Lawrence. Perhaps Lawrence felt he had to bowl as two men. Perhaps he took inspiration from the goings-on at Lord's. Suddenly batsmen were having to hurry.

Mendis, scorer of 151 in the first innings, retired ruefully flexing his left arm while Fowler, Speak and Watkinson departed for good. In 10 quick, straight overs Lawrence claimed three for 42 and the scales tipped Gloucestershire's way. But by the close Fairbrother, with a rapid half-century, had largely negated Lawrence's burst, Lancashire finishing a lively day with a lead of 207. Another three-wicket blast by Lawrence tins morning would suit Gloucestershire nicely. WEST INDIBSv-Flrst innings 209 (A Logie 81.

Dujon 53; GR Dilley 5-55, Small 4-64). ENO.LAND. First Innings 165 (M Marshall 6-32). WEST INDUS Sacond innings (overnight: 354-5) A Logie not as tP Dujon Jarvis 02 Marshall Jarvis 8 Ambrose Dilley A Walsh Dilley Patterson Downton Jarvis 2 Extras (Ib19. wi.

nb5) 2S Total. .387 ran vi mmM wnH wi uia, wv. w. ii to a. Cni.il in 1 7C it.

qto ion la A Jarvis 26-3-107-4; Emburey 15-1-62-0; Pringle 21-4-60-2. ENGLAND Second innbisa A Gooch lbw Marshall 10 1 14 1 99 27 30 20 Broad Dujon Marsnall Moxon run out I Gower Richardson Patterson. A Lamb not out- Pringle lbw Walsh Ft Downton lbw Marshall Emburey Ambrose Small not out Extras (05, IblO) Total ((or 7)- 214 Fall of wickets: 27. 29. 31.

104. 105. 161, 212. Bowling 10 date! Marshall 1B-4-43-3; Patterson 12-0-76-1; Walsh 14-0-50-1; Ambrose 15-4-30-1. Umpirep: Palmer and Shepherd.

his sideshow the same two-day fate as Yorkshire after Peter Wil-ley's 130 had helped Leicestershire' to a first-innings lead of 150. A half-century from the wicketkeeper, Bernie Maher, saved Derbyshire from the follow on against Worcestershire. HAMPSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Southampton! Nottinghamshire (3pts) are 122 runs behind Hampshire (7) with eight second innings wickets remaining. NOTTINOHAMSHIREFIrst innings 197 (C A Connor 5-70). HAMPSHIRE First Inninga (overnight: 112-2) Smith Newell Hemmings 117 A Smith Newell Stephenson 20 Turner lbw Slephenson 76 Ayling lbw Cooper- 12 tR Parks Stephenson Cooper 24 Cowley Evans 86 Maruc Scott Millns 5 A Connor Hemmings 18 Andrew not out 8 Extras (b6, Ib15, w4, nb5) 30 Total 369 Far), contdi 134.

219. 248, 290, 304. 329, 375. Score after 100 overs! 265. Bowling: Stephenson 29-5-91-2; Cooper 29-10-67-2; Millns 17-5-53-1; Hemmings 37-10-96-4; Evans 13.3-1-61-1.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Second innlmm Pollard Maru-M Newell not out- 34 12 8 16 tC Scott Parks Maru- Johnson not out Extras (04, Ib6, nb6) Total (lor 2)- LEICESTERSHIRE SUSSEX Leicester! Sussex (4pts) are 49 runs behind Leicestershire (7) with seven second Innings wickets remsining. SUSSEX. First Innings 159 (Imran Khan 55; A DeFreitas 5-38). LEICESTERSHIRE First IrmlnaB (overnight: 102-4) 3 Willey Kimber Wells 130 Hepworth lbw Wells 61 A DeFreitas Clarke 84 Lewis Moores Pigort 23 IP Whitlicase not 21 Agnew Allkhan Pigott 22 Ferris Pigott 3 Extras (b2, Ib3, wi, nbS) 11 Total 300 Fall of wfcfcata conb 175, 233, 239, 265, 305. Score after 100 oversi 257.

Bowling: Imran 26-10-45-1; Pigott 35.4-5-100-6; Wells 24-7-66-2; Kimber 14-3-63-0: Clarke 14-5-30-1. SUSSEX Second innings A Green ret hurt 11 Alikhan Whittlcase Ferris- 18 3 38 26 17 101 Parker lbw Agnew- Imran Khan Whittlcase Agnew- Wells not out Lenham not out Extras (Ib8, nb 9) Total (tor 3)- LANCASHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE Old Trafford: Lancashire (4pts) lead 3louceslershire (5) by 205 runs with seven second Innings wickets remaining. LANCASHIRE First Innings 329-6 dec (G 3 Mendls 151. Fairbrother 54). GLOUCESTERSHIRE First innlnga (overnight: 19-0) A Stovold Hughes Watkinson 32 A Wright lbw Austin 36 Romaines not out 101 Athey not out 72 Extras (b11, Ib3, wi) 16 Total (lor 2 dec, 792 overs) 268 FaBof wleketsi 55.

99. Sowfinei Watkinson 16-4-65-1: Hayhurst 13-1-53-0; Austin 12.2-2-45-1: Folly Simmons 14-3-35-4). LANCASHIRE Second Innings Mendls retired hurt- ia S3 io 63 1 Fowler Lawrence Speak lbw Lawrence. i-airoroiner not oui Watkinson Lloyds Lawrence Hughes not out i-xtras (Ibl. nb7) I fotat(lor 3) 134 APPLY FOR A SPECIAL ROWING TRUSTCARDNOW.

Support Britain in the IminlMut rnnrh nt fill muino Tliaf'c xuhara lA'O Alan Henry NIGEL MANSELL'S star was firmly in the ascendant a year ago, as he picked up the pace of his world championship challenge with the Williams-Honda turbo. Today, six races into the 1988 season, the Englishman has still to score a point, yet the tenacity and total commitment with which he has accepted the unfamiliar role of also-ran is gaining him even more respect and status than he received when he was one of racing's undisputed pacemakers. Mansell must soon make a decision about his; choice of team for next year and, in his own words, he intends to keep 11 1 1 si ateiy IA Please send me further details NAME ADDRESS EBeflip am 1 mgmm1 1 av the the a VManx v. compete, and succeed, against the best in the world. Tl -f 1J 1 nib year iaj ur uui njwera luum mine uume from Seoul with medals.

But they need support. You can help -without it costing you anything. All you have to do is apply for a Special Rowing Trustcard. ilia Tmi- Fn otwru Snpriaii Rnmititr Trustrnrl issued, irustcara wtu give 5 to me arttisn 20n will hp donated for pvprv uauig uic ixuvvuig uuaiwuui yuu duuujr iiuiu a ucuti uuf yw 86 four for 33 on the day to hasten Yorkshire towards a fifth championship defeat. Northamptonshire's West Indies fast bowler, Winston Davis, staked his own claims in taking his 37th championship wicket in six games with five for 54 against Middlesex.

Sussex narrowly avoided WARWICKSHIRE KENT Edgbaatoni Kent (23pts) beat Warwickshire (2) by an innings and 46 runs. KENT. first innings 327 (C Tavare 103, Cowdrey 78). WARWICKSHIRE First inning A Llovd Cowdrey Penn 10 A Moles not out 67 Asif Din Cowdrey A Smith Tavare Cowdrey tG Humpage Ellison Parsons and Cowdrey A A Donald Marsh Penn A Munton Cowdrey Ellison Gilford Ellison Penn A I Kallicharran absent hurt A Reeve absent hurt Extras (Ib1, wi. nb3) 10 1 12 1 1 6 107 Total (37.5 overs).

c.ii. 1 in 4 inn mt iru. 107. Bowling! Ellison 12-2-38-2; Penn 12.5-4-32-3; Cowdrey 10-1-31-2; Cowdrey 3-2-5-1. WARWICKSHIRE Second Innings A Moles Davis Ellison- 21 A Llovd Tavare Cowdrey 40 Asif Din Penn 62 A Smith and Ellison a tG Humpage Penn Ellison 1 Parsons lbw Cowdrey 17 A Munton Cowdrey 1 A A Donald not out IB Gitlord Penn 8 A I Kalllcharan absent hurt A Reeve absent hurt Extras (Ib1, w7) 8 Total Falll 34.

84, 98, 104, 141. 142, 157, 174. Bowllngi Ellison 14-3-56-3; Penn 17.4 3-55-2; Pienaar 5-1-14-0; Cowdrey 10-2-48-3. Holder ana piews. YORKSHIRE ESSEX ShefHetdi Essex (21pts) beat Yorkshire (4) by nine wickels.

VORKSHIRfcFlrst innings 133 (N A Foster 6-53). ESSEX First Innings (overnight: 135-7) Lever Fletcher 1 Topley not out IT A Brown 8alrstow Fletcher 2 Childs Byas Sfdebohom 4 Extras lb5, Ib3, w1. nb2) 11 Total (63.5 overs)- 168 FaM of wtekata aonb 138. 140. BowHngi Fletcher 24-6-58-8; Sidebottom 15.5-3-35-1; Shaw 12-1-33-1; Swallow 8-1-18-0; Carrick 4-2-6-0.

YORKSHIRE Sacond Innings A A Metcalfe Border Lever- 1 6 27 33 14 11 2 8 7 Byas lbw Lever- Blakey Border Foster- Sharp Miller Foster I Swallow Lilley Topley Hooinson lopiey- tD Balrstow Childs Foster- 'P Carrick Brown Lever A Sidebottom Topley Foster- Shaw Brown Topley Fletcher not out Extras (Ibl, nb6) Total 113 wtekatu 5. B. 8. 11. 65.

89. 96. 98. 99. Bowllnai Foster 16-6-33-4; Lever 15.3-3-41-3; Topley 15-2-38-3.

ESSEX Sacond Inninga Stephenson lbw Sktebottom Hardie not out 33 Prlchard not out 3 Extras (Ib4, nb4) 8 Total (lor 1) 89 Bowling! Fletcher 6-0-35-0; Sidebottom 8-0-29-1; Shaw 5-0-13-0; Byas 2.2-0--0. Umpires! Blrkenshaw and Hasaan. Babi Ciarfcson Trophy MaMatonei Hampshire 192-7. Kent 1954. Kent won by 2 wkts.

was Neil Foster's turn to give England pause for thought yesterday. After Sunday's century by that other man on the fringes, Mike Gatting, the Essex fast bowler made out his own case for reinstatement to the national team as he finished with match figures of 10 for Scoreboard Britannic Assurance County Championship DERBYSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE Derby: Derbyshire (6pts) are 45 runs behind Worcestershire (7) with one first Innings wicKet remaining. WORCESTERSHIRE First Innlna (overnight: 332-6) fS Rhodes Wright J-Jacques 10B Newport Bowler Newman, a ft lllingworth lbw Jean-Jacques Radlord not out 3 McEwan Roberts J-Jacques a Extras (bl, Ib13, w2) IB Total- 367 FaU.conldi352.352.352. Qawtlngt Newman 36-12-108-4; Mortensen 3-2-1-1; Jean-Jacques 34.3-4-106-3; Roberts 24-3-68-2; Goldsmith 19-6-27-0; Sharma 19-7-43-0. OERBVSHIRB First Innlnga Wright Radlord McEwan-P Bowler Rhodes Newport- 12 66 46 30 T6 Roberts ana uiingwonn- Morris Hick llllngworth- Goldsmith Radford tB Maher not out- Barnelt Rhodes lllingworth 23 Sharma Hick McEwan 12 Newman Hick 30 Jean-Jacques lbw Hick Mortensen not 1 Extras (b4, Ib5, nb5) 14 total (for 9.

98 overs) 322 Falll 5, 32, 113, 148, 166, 194, 221, 297, 297. Umpkritsi Julian and Meyer. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MIDDLESEX litem NorthamDtonshire (Sots) lead Middle sex (6) by 183 runs with nine second innings wickets remaining. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE First innlnga 338 Capel 92, A Stanley 62). MIDDLESEX firat limlnaa (overnight: 38-0) WD Slack bOavis 44 0 Carr and Davis 21 -M Gatting Davis Cook 64 0 Butcher st Ripley Cook 61 1K Brown Stanley Cook A Roseberry lerkins Davis a Hutchinson Walker Williams- 26 Hughes Walker Cook 28 Williams Ripley Davis 16 ARC Fraser not out 4 Tufnell Wild Davis Extras (b6.

nb6) 12 Total (92.1 overs) 277 Mb 50, 82, 142, 142, 156, 223, 227. 270, 275. owllngi Davis 22.1-3-54-5; Capel 12-2-52-0; Wild 6-0-28-0; Cook 29-4-61-4; Walker 5-0-12-0; Williams 18-4-64-1. NORTHAM rTONSH I RS Second kmunoja a mook not out- 64 26 40 3 1St Larklns Brown Wllllams- Bailey not out Extras (Ib2. nb1) Total (for 1) MotwiokttaiSO.

constant and Thompson. Warwick U-S8 Competition Glamorgan 220-7 (P A Cottev 51). Worcestershire 181. Glamorgan won by 59 runs. Tka Ova Sussex 120-7 (0 Standing 54).

Surrey 121-2 (Zahld Sadlq 67no). Surrey won by 8 vrkts. Cotahaatan Essex 183-6 (I Redoath 82). Leicestershire 167-7 (J Bonson 54, Wilson 53). Leicestershire won oy a wins.

BAWCUUtKSOHTROWW. Brenfoadi Essex Hampshire, fcmw Glamorgan Gloucestershire. Hestow Lancashire Derbyshire. WorfcaocM Nottinghamshire York shire. BaBM Somerset Warwickshire.

uui ucuiais; uiy tAwimg -J A unui vuui new ixuwuu; iiusiuuu akvuuiu cuiu ihuhcui- Lancashire Gloucestershire Lawrence hurries things along 1 generate runas tor onasn rowing. As the first step to helping iL TRUSTCARD your special Kowing irustcara application form. Stephen Blerloy at Old Trafford ONE day they may have to introduce compulsory identity cards for cricket. "I'm sorry, sir, you can't come into this Sunday game. You haven't attended a championship match for two years." There was a thumping large crowd for the Refuge Assurance League match.

Yesterday it was back to the faithful few as serious manoeuvrings began for today's three-day finish. Lancashire, who for various reasons were without Wasim Akram, Allott, Matthews and Jesty, opened the bowling with Watkinson and Hayhurst It immediately became obvious wickets would be as rare and precious as a Greta Gar bo doodle, so it came as a mild shock when Stovold and Wright, having eased their way into the 30s, were both dismissed. It was sheer carelessness. Romaines, out of form, and Athey, bursting with it, displayed neither profligacy nor sloth. At one point in their unbroken stand of 157 Simmons held up the ball by its seam like a dead mouse.

For all the movement the home bowlers could and a Rowing Trustcard application form. Gl Post this coupon in an envelope without a stamp to: Rowing Trustcard, Freepost, RO. Box 109, Perm, High Wycombe, Bucks HP108BR. TSB Trustcard Ltd. Registered in England and Wales number 1365134.

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