da pinup bet： Former Australia batsman Simon Katich’s sensational double-century putLancashire in control on the third day of their top-of-the-table clash against Northamptonshire.
10-Jul-2013
ScorecardSimon Katich, seen here last year for Hampshire, has tipped this match in Lancashire’s favour•PA Photos
Former Australia batsman Simon Katich’s sensational double-century putLancashire in control on the third day of their top-of-the-table clash against Northamptonshire.Katich’s outstanding knock of 200 off 322 balls included 26 fours and one sixas Lancashire were eventually bowled out for 442, giving them a first-inningslead 132. Simon Kerrigan then took three wickets as the hosts closed still nine runs behind, to set up a fascinating final day at Wantage Road.Lancashire began the day on 262 for 4, 48 runs behind their opponents, withKatich resuming on 114 and Luke Procter on 62.Katich was given a reprieve in the third over of the day when he was dropped bystand-in captain David Sales at second slip off Willey after adding one run tohis overnight total.Procter was eventually dismissed for 85 when he nudged Andrew Hall’s deliveryto wicketkeeper David Murphy to end a superb fifth-wicket stand of 145.Willey then struck when he trapped Lancashire wicketkeeper Gareth Crosslbw before repeating the trick to Wayne White, who struck just a single. Willey then knocked over Kyle Hogg’s off stump three balls later, meaningLancashire had lost four wickets for just 17 runs.But Katich continued to be the scourge of Northamptonshire by going past 150off 244 balls in the sixth over after lunch. His ninth-wicket partnership with captain Glen Chapple set a new record forLancashire against their opponents, surpassing the 96 made between Ken Grievesand Malcolm Hilton at Northampton in 1955.Chapple comfortably completed his half-century off 94 deliveries before fallingon 57 when he was taken by Hall at slip to give Willey the fifth five-wickethaul of his career and break the stand at 128. Katich went on to make his fifth double-hundred off 321 balls before smashingthe very next ball, bowled by Cameron White, to Muhammad Azharullah at deepmidwicket.Northamptonshire began their second innings after tea and lost Kyle Coetzer in the seventh over when Karl Brown took a superb catch low to his right atthird slip off the bowling of Chapple. Sales made it to 30 before playing Kerrigan onto his stumps and the same bowlerthen dismissed Ben Duckett for 24 when his delivery spun into his off stump. Kerrigan also claimed the wicket of Cameron White with five overs leftwhen the Australian chopped on, leaving Northamptonshire in trouble going intoday four.