Hogg holds his nerve

KYLE Hogg posted 35 not out against Unicorns.

CRICKET: LOCAL players had a major hand in Lancashire’s thrilling last-ball win over the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40.

Delph’s Kyle Hogg, Luke Procter of Royton, and Bamford Fieldhouse’s Stephen Parry all featured at Colwyn Bay.

Surviving a five–wicket haul from medium pacer Neil Hancock, the Lightning had to score 13 runs off the last over in their pursuit of 254.

Hogg hit 12 of them, including a straight six off the bowling of Jonathan Miles, to finish 35 not out off 26 balls as Lancashire won by two wickets.

The Red Rose county had looked to be cantering to their target after openers Karl Brown and Paul Horton shared 115 inside 21 overs. But Hancock’s five for 64 put it in the balance.

Lancashire needed 93 off 10 overs and it took a 43–ball 51 from Steven Croft to get them back on track.

The hosts had earlier made 253 for seven.

Procter finished with three for 29 from his six overs of medium pace and Hogg returned an impressive two for 27 from eight.

Veteran skipper Keith Parsons and Josh Knappett took a liking to Parry and Gary Montgomery during a fourth-wicket stand of 120 in 16 overs.

Knappett swept Parry for two sixes into the pavilion while Parsons also pulled Parry over the square leg boundary. But it was to be Lancashire’s day.