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Squad News For Unicorns Clash

Lancashire will head to Colwyn Bay on Sunday needing to beat the Unicorns to keep alive their hopes of qualification for the Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-finals.

LANCS: Croft (cpt), Brown, Cheetham, Clark, Cross, Horton, Junaid, Kerrigan, Moore, Newby, Parry, Procter, Smith 

Their stop-start Group C campaign has seen two wins, three losses and a No Result from their six matches.

But the outstanding form of pacesetters Somerset and Essex has also contributed to leave Nottinghamshire, Glamorgan, Lancashire and Gloucestershire all up against it to seal a place in the group’s top two teams.

Only the top team in each group is assured of qualification for the last four, although the best second place finisher across the three groups will also claim a spot.

Lancashire are six points behind both Somerset and Essex with a game in hand on only the Chelmsford outfit with them still to visit Old Trafford later this summer.

Understandably, as has been stated all the way through the season, the Red Rose will have one eye on bigger challenges ahead, specifically the LV= County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Southport on Tuesday.

Glen Chapple, Mark Chilton, Sajid Mahmood, Kyle Hogg and Gary Keedy, who all played in the memorable four-day win over Yorkshire at Headingley, which finished earlier today, will miss the trip.

Chapple’s absence means Steven Croft will again take on the captaincy duties.

Chapple, going on to explain his reasons for sitting out the clash, said: “We’ll be as professional as we possibly can be and try and turn over the Unicorns.

“I need a rest. If we’re going to back up what we did here (at Headingley) on Tuesday, I need a rest.”

All the players named in the side for Monday’s 40-over washout against Somerset at Old Trafford have been named by coach Peter Moores, including Pakistan left arm fast bowler Junaid Khan.

The Unicorns may have failed to win one of their eight matches so far, having also lost to the Lightning at Old Trafford at the start of the season, but they only have to look at last season’s corresponding fixture to know they can spring a surprise.

The hosts posted 253-7, boosted by 84 for captain Keith Parsons, and then had Lancashire at 234-8 after 38 overs, needing 20 to win from the last 12 balls.

But Hogg saved the day for the Red Rose with 35 not out off 26 balls, hitting the last ball of the match for six to seal the points.

If tomorrow’s clash is anywhere near as exciting, those planning to travel to North Wales will be in for a treat. (Start: 1.45pm)

Graham Hardcastle