PCA Masters Sink Derbyshire Phantoms
The PCA Masters, sponsored by Sodexho, beat the Derbyshire Phantoms by three wickets in an eagerly awaited clash in the East Midlands, which saw Sri Lankan super star Muttiah Muralitharan a late call up for the Masters side.
Earlier in the day, the showers had finally given way to a beautiful evening at the County Ground as the Masters won the toss and invited the Phantoms to bat in this Twenty20 Floodlit Cup fixture. Masters captain Nick Knight and Phantoms skipper Simon Katich had agreed before the start that the bowling would take place from the Grandstand end to alleviate the perennial problem of the setting sun, which has delayed day/night fixtures.
Chris Lewis opened the bowling for the Masters, delivering a magnificent maiden which saw Phil Weston play and miss at five of the six deliveries. The second over from Martin Bicknell produced 23 runs including two towering sixes as the Phantoms set about posting a competitive total.
Wickets began to tumble as Glen Chapple was introduced into the attack. The Lancashire seamer had James Pipe caught behind, Phil Weston well pouched by Nick Knight at mid off and Hassan Adnan chipping a return catch. A brilliant piece of work by Martin Bicknell at backward point saw Greg Smith run out from his first ball.
At 47-4 the Phantoms were fading fast but a partnership of 46 between Simon Katich and Steve Stubbings ensured the home team would have something to bowl at. The introduction of spin stemmed the flow with Sri Lankan star Muttiah Muralitharan
introduced into the attack in the eleventh over, followed by former England spinners Peter Such and Neil Smith. It was Smith who made the breakthrough, bowling Stubbings for 19.
Wickets continued to tumble and Muralitharan returned to the attack conceding just one run in the eighteenth over. Chris Lewis took three wickets in the next over as the Phantoms ghosted to a total of 137-9 largely thanks to captain Simon Katich who made 56 not out - his half century coming up in 41 deliveries.
Pick of the Masters bowlers Glen Chapple (3-11) and Chris Lewis (3-16).
The PCA Masters reply got off to a mixed start with West Indian Sherwin Campbell hooking four before Nick Knight was caught at the wicket without scoring with only one run added to the total. Campbell himself departed soon after and it was left to Stuart Law and Neil Smith to take the total on to 71 with some fine hitting before Smith perished for 27.
Chris Lewis joined a now rampant Stuart Law at the wicket, who completed his half century from 40 deliveries with eight fours and a six. The pair added 40 before nelson struck twice (111) as first Lewis was caught off the bowling of Needham for 12 before Law too skied a catch to long off without adding to his half century. The Masters began to stumble as Luke Sutton followed soon after and when Martin Bicknell was out six runs were still required from two overs. Glen Chapple steadied the ship and thumped a boundary down the ground to secure a three wicket Masters victory with more than an over to spare.
PCA Masters XI v Derbyshire XI
Nick Knight (Capt)
Sherwin Campbell
Stuart Law
Chris Lewis
Neil Smith
Luke Sutton (WKT)
Glenn Chapple
Peter Such
Martin Bicknell
Muttiah Muralitharan
Devon Malcolm
Dean Headley (12th man)
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