Lancashire Reporter

Lancashire hit a low

LEADER: Sajid Mahmood

LANCASHIRE slumped to their second heavy defeat in two days at the hands of Kent, losing by 56 runs in the Totesport League.

The Red Rose side will be glad to see the back of Tunbridge Wells after their unbeaten start to the season was ended in the Championship on Saturday.

Coach Mike Watkinson felt it wasn't a good performance and said: "They had a bit more intensity, they were smarter about their cricket and they did the basics a little bit better.

"We know what we did wrong and will be aiming to put it right next week."

Yesterday, in perfect conditions, Kent piled up the highest score conceded by Lancashire in the one-day league.

Andrew Symonds smashed a brutal 146 from 110 balls as the Spitfires amassed 301 all out.

His partnership of 170 in 77 minutes with Matthew Walker took the game away from Lancashire after Sajid Mahmood had taken two quick wickets to leave them 80-3.

It was rich entertainment for the crowd of 4,500 that soaked up the sun.

The Aussie reached his century from just 81 balls and by the time he was caught at long on he had hit 17 fours and four sixes. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Mahmood was the only Lancashire bowler to escape the worst of the punishment and returned later in the innings to end with 4-42, extending his lead as Division One's leading wicket-taker.

Chasing 302, Lancashire were never in the hunt once Stuart Law had holed out to mid-off for 51.

Iain Sutcliffe had to bat at number seven with a runner after injuring himself in the field and Glen Chapple was unlucky to be run out backing up, but the game was already out of sight.