Semi-final curse hits Lancashire again (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Semi-final curse hits Lancashire again

11:25am Monday 6th July 2009

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LANCASHIRE’S semi-final hoodoo continued once again as they lost to Hampshire by 64 runs in the Friends Provident Trophy at Old Trafford yesterday.

It was the ninth time they had fallen at the last four hurdle in a competition since winning their last trophy, the Axa and Equity League back in 1999.

Lancashire wicket-keeper Luke Sutton admitted: “We can have no complaints that we have gone out. It’s a game we could have won and we thought 271 was gettable.

“But we didn’t bat to our normal standards. We have chased scores like that before but we lost wickets at crucial times.

“Peter Moores has told us you have 24 hours to celebrate a win and 24 hours to get over a defeat. It doesn’t feel very good at the moment.

“But we’ve got a break now before we play again on Friday and it will be a chance to freshen our minds.”

Jimmy Adams and fellow opener Michael Lumb plundered 159 off only 25 overs before Hampshire collapsed to 271 all out.

But then Adams pulled off two stunning catches to remove Lancashire dangermen VVS Laxman and Francois du Plessis as the home side were dismissed for 207.

It will be Hampshire’s third final appearance in the last five years.

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