Hooper hits second century to inspire Lancashire
Guyana Chronicle
May 14, 2004
LONDON, England (CMC) - Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper hit his second hundred of the season to enhance Lancashire’s position in their Division 1 match of the English County Cricket Championship against Worcestershire yesterday.
The 37-year-old Hooper hit exactly 100 before he was dismissed just before the close by Australian Andy Bichel to leave Lancashire 200 for three in their second innings, after they dismissed Worcestershire for 146 to gain a 41-run first innings lead at Old Trafford.
Hooper lashed a dozen boundaries from 186 balls in just under four hours and shared a 168-run stand with Ian Sutcliffe, who is unbeaten on 81, after Lancs had slipped to 32 for two.
Earlier, James Anderson, who has just returned from England’s tour of the West Indies, gave the national selectors a timely reminder by taking six wickets for 49 runs from 17 overs in Worcestershire’s first innings.
Anderson’s scalps included former England batsman Graeme Hick, England teammate Gareth Batty and Andy Bichel.
In the Division 2 championship, former Barbados and West Indies all-rounder Ottis Gibson had a sterling bowling performance, but his Leicestershire side conceded a 143-run first innings lead to Nottinghamshire at Grace Road.
Gibson ended with five wickets for 98 runs from 24 overs and Dominica-born former England all-rounder Phil De Freitas, the Leicestershire captain, took two for 82 from 26 overs, but a knock of 139 from former England all-rounder Mark Ealham helped Notts to post 366, in reply to the home team’s first innings total of 223.
Leicestershire reached 94 for two in their second innings at stumps.
Elsewhere, Jamaica off-spin all-rounder Gareth Breese hit 41, but Durham conceded a 140-run first innings lead to Somerset at Taunton.
Replying to Somerset’s first innings total of 375, Durham were undermined by recent England bowler Richard Johnson with seven wickets for 69 runs from 23 overs and were all out for 235. Windward Islands fast bowler Nixon McLean took two for 58 from 19 overs.
Somerset were 67 for two in the second innings when stumps were drawn.