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Day 1: Atherton lights Lancashire fire

Rob Wildman

Lancs 358-2 v Glamorgan

Michael Atherton showed yesterday that he has not yet resigned himself to a life of commentator and columnist. The Lancashire lad can still bat sweetly, gliding to his 48th first-class century and reminding the England camp of his playing presence.

Atherton hopes the pain from his back problems has eased and believes, through correct exercise and a little luck, that he he will be able to prove his fitness at county level before rejoining the international set.

His undefeated 176 - a first century for Lancashire in 14 months put the side in a commanding position. Against Muttiah Muralitharan, on a turning pitch, Glamorgan need to bat brilliantly to avoid a fourth defeat in five games.

Nothing seemed to go Glamorgan's way at blustery Stanley Park, including the sight of a white-haired terrier fielding an Atherton drive moments before Steve Watkin arrived on the scene; the dog returned to his owner and another four was conceded.

The cameo was all part of a good day for John Crawley, the now all-powerful Lancashire captain following the decision to allow coach Dav Watmore to join Sri Lanka next month.

First, Crawley exercised his selection power by dropping Graham Lloyd and Mike Watkinson for Richard Green and Chris Schofield. Then he won the toss, setting up the prospect of bowling Muralitharan in the final innings.

It took Atherton and his apprentice, Mark Chilton, 10 overs to find their range against Watkin and Simon Jones. The master completed fifty off 114 balls shortly before lunch and played his most choice shots in the afternoon, racing to his century off a further 76 deliveries and punishing Jones for three fours in an over.

His one moment of good fortune came after tea, when a top-edged pull, which took him to 150, fell wide of Darren Thomas.

The first wicket had fallen 10 overs before tea, when Chilton was caught behind for 71 to end a record opening stand for Lancashire against Glamorgan of 218.

Crawley briefly joined Atherton in contributing 34, and at the close Neil Fairbrother had forged another profitable partnership. In all, Atherton faced 338 balls and he could pass 200 runs for the first time in the championship today.

Day 2: Chairman hails 'best Atherton innings'

Rob Wildman

Glamorgan (193-6) trail Lancs (556-6 dec) by 363 runs

Michael Atherton might not be the only player at Stanley Park to send the statisticians scurrying to consult their records. The way Muttiah Muralitharan bowled yesterday afternoon he is on course for another startling return during his short stint with Lancashire.

Atherton's undefeated 268 was rated by Lancastrian judges, including chairman Jack Simmons, who was a team-mate on the player's debut in 1987, as his best for the county. ``I've never seen him play better,'' purred the chairman about the former England captain's highest score.

Once Lancashire declared, Atherton having added a further 92 yesterday, a crowd of around 4,000 sat back to fathom out the variations of Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan wrist-spinner was introduced after 12 overs of pace and his spell of five for 61 in 30 overs was only broken by the tea interval. Chris Schofield, his co-spinner, also chipped in, gaining the final wicket to fall.

Glamorgan had periods of resistance, led by Adrian Dale, who compiled an excellent 89 not out while his colleagues perished in an atmosphere of inevitability. Some opted for defence and others, like captain Matthew Maynard, came unstuck attacking Muralitharan.

Like the Sri Lankan, stamina was an attribute demonstrated by Atherton. He showed no signs of flagging later in the field which will encourage him to feel that his debilitating back problems are under control.

Day 3: Rough ride for Glamorgan

Rob Wildman

Glamorgan (282 & 235-6) trail Lancs (556) by 39 runs

Glamorgan batted so determinedly for a large part of yesterday they gave the impression a ride on the big dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach had made them realise there are more scarier things than having to face Muttiah Muralitharan.

Yet, by the close a late fall of three wickets had put Lancashire within sight of victory with Muralitharan and his spin partner, Chris Schofield, having trapped Glamorgan again.

The team bonding trip to the fun park had come on Thursday evening when most pundits were forecasting a third successive innings defeat for Glamorgan the following afternoon. They survived that embarrassment when the umpires decided that the extra half hour would not give Lancashire sufficient time to finish the match.

Up until 6pm Glamorgan had been buoyed by the resolution during the day of Adrian Dale, Michael Powell and Wayne Law. The steadfast trio even forced Muralitharan to rest for periods. After taking five for 61 on Thursday afternoon, the Sri Lankan added one more yesterday morning when Schofield, the right-arm leg break bowler, took three wickets for a career-best of four for 55.

Schofield proved the more troublesome in the second innings when his spell in the final 30 minutes ended a stand of 151 in 59 overs between Powell (96) and Law (53). Both fell to close in catches and were followed near the end when Muralitharan snared Ismail Dawood.

Glamorgan were 274 runs behind at the start of their second innings and quickly faltered to 61 for three 10 overs into the afternoon. Surprisingly, Ian Austin showed that seam could gain help from a flat pitch by dismissing openers Dale and Steve James while Muralitharan outwitted Matthew Maynard.

Dale had shown the necessary application in the first innings by compiling his third century of the season before he was bowled by Muralitharan attempting a sweep. Powell and Law mounted the defence in the second innings, but their assured batting looks unlikely to be enough to prevent defeat.

Day 4: Schofield double-act steals show

Rob Wildman

Lancashire (556-6 dec & 19-0) beat Glamorgan (282 & 289) by 10 wkts

Chris Schofield, the leg spinner being groomed for England, looks set for his first prolonged stint in the Lancashire team, though that has been earned by his consistent batting as much as his unusual bowling.

A career-best 146 not out in a second-team one-day game last week looks to have persuaded the new Lancashire selection committee, headed by captain John Crawley, that the Lancashire lad, 20, is a good enough all-rounder to sideline Mike Watkinson, the county's dependable double-act for the last decade.

Schofield delivered against Glamorgan where he took eight wickets in the match and formed a formidable partnership with Muttiah Muralitharan, whose combined figures of 10 for 176 were his poorest so far in five games for Lancashire.

Helped by the undefeated 268 from Mike Atherton in the first innings, Lancashire completed a 10-wicket victory yesterday morning, dismissing Glamorgan for 289 in the second innings which left a victory target of 16.

Schofield shrugs off the lack of opportunities over the past two seasons, though that still did not stop David Lloyd, the former England coach, from saying last winter that he was ready for Test cricket. Lloyd even recruited Schofield as a net bowler during last winter's Ashes and Triangular series, when the spinner was playing grade cricket in Melbourne.

Schofield said: ``My first aim this season was to get a regular place in the Lancashire side by bowling well and scoring a few runs.''

Schofield looks to have gained that chance now, though competition for the second spin place behind Muralitharan is keen in a squad including left-armer Gary Keedy and Watkinson.

Muralitharan, who is negotiating to return to Old Trafford next year, has two more championship games before he returns to Sri Lanka for international duties. Ignoring the rain-ruined match at Bristol, he has taken 47 wickets in four games. ``There is nothing we can do to stop Murali returning,'' Crawley said.