Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Veteran Stephenson rolls back the years

Round-up

Andrew Tong
Sunday 19 May 2002 00:00 BST
Comments

John Stephenson, who gained his solitary Test cap back in 1989 against the Australians one match after Mike Atherton's debut, might have been pleased to see the England selectors recalling old lags like Alec Stewart for the First Test at Lord's. The 37-year-old returned to his Essex roots during the winter after a spell at Hampshire, ostensibly to lead the Second XI and turn out for the odd one-day match. But due to a surfeit of injuries among the Essex pacemen, he returned to first-class cricket at Worcester and promptly picked up his first 10-wicket haul in his 282nd match.

The all-rounder grabbed career-best figures of 7 for 44 with his gentle seamers as Worcestershire crumpled to 140 all out in their second innings, leaving Essex a target of 135. He was certainly bowling straighter than England did against Sri Lanka, with five lbw victims and three bowled among his 10 for 104. Stephenson was there at the end, too, seeing his side to their first victory of the campaign with his captain Ronnie Irani.

The visitors were initially reduced to 13 for 3 with the pacey left-armer Alamgir Sheriyar claiming 3 for 46, but the Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Andy Flower steadied the nerves with 47 to allow Essex to reach 135 for 5.

As Essex moved out of the lower reaches of the Second Division, Durham stayed firmly rooted to the bottom as they lost to Glamorgan at Cardiff by five wickets. The north-eastern county have lost all three of their Championship matches this season.

In spite of only four overs being possible on the third day, the task for Glamorgan was simple enough yesterday: 201 runs to win in their second innings. And Steve James, the captain of the Welsh county, led from the front with 121 off 164 balls including 18 fours to propel his side to 204 for 5.

In the First Division, Sussex and Lancashire had to settle for a share of the spoils at Old Trafford as the weather spoilt any chances of a conclusion. Sussex had resumed on 186 for 6, protecting a lead of 243 and looking for a speedy declaration, but rain intervened terminally by the time they had progressed to 221 for 7.

If Lancashire's last-wicket pair had not put on 145 to avoid the follow-on, the visitors might well have been able to wrap up proceedings before the weather beat them to it. On the other hand the home side, after such a heroic recovery, will no doubt be ruing the fact that they were denied the chance to overtake Surrey while the First Division leaders were being entertained by student opposition.

Another side aiming for the top were Leicestershire and although they, too, were thwarted by the weather, they were engaged in a damage limitation exercise against Somerset at Taunton, 277 runs behind on first innings and seeking a draw. Only 10 overs had been possible on day three, and the visitors duly achieved their aim since there was no play at all yesterday.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in