Chapple leads Lancs to easy win

19 March 2010

Glen Chapple, and fellow bowler Gary Keedy, helped Lancashire to a simple victory over rivals Essex in Barbados

Experienced duo Glen Chapple and Gary Keedy claimed three wickets apiece as Lancashire comfortably defeated LV= County Championship Division One rivals Essex in a two-day pre-season game at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

In a game of 12-a-side, with 11 nominated batsmen - the first inter-county action this year - Lancashire set Essex a challenging target after declaring on 328 for six from 90 overs.

Essex never threatened to come close to the target - floundering at one point on 23 for three - and they were dismissed for 183 from 70 overs. Ryan ten Doeschate offered greatest resistance with 51 but Chapple and Keedy cleaned up with three wickets each.

Essex coach Paul Grayson said: “Obviously we have not played too much cricket over the winter and we were a bit rusty – we must now focus on the areas of improvement in the next week to 10 days.”