Lightning finish for County’s unsung heroes (From Worcester News)

Lightning finish for County’s unsung heroes

6:00pm Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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WORCESTERSHIRE Royals’ unsung heroes head to Lancashire Lightning tomorrow (12.45pm) looking to finish their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign on a high.

Despite their 90-run crushing of Surrey Lions on Wednesday, much of the spotlight remained on England star Kevin Pietersen — despite blistering tons from Vikram Solanki and Gareth Andrew as the Royals posted their best-ever 40-over score of 376-6.

Steve Rhodes’ side, who featured eight players who had come up through the ranks at New Road, have now won their last four Group ‘A’ matches and will be looking to make it five at Aigburth, Liverpool.

But the County will once again be without overseas all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as he continues to recover from a hip injury sustained in the Bank Holiday Monday success over group leaders Somerset Sabres.

Rhodes is also missing both his two senior seamers, Matt Mason and Alan Richardson (both knee), for the trip to the north-west.

With the duo missing, Chris Russell is set to continue despite struggling in Wednesday’s game.

But director of cricket Rhodes said: “Chris will be stronger for the match at Surrey. It was his first game under lights and in front of the cameras.

“It isn’t the end of the road, he’s got his whole career ahead of him.”

Victory for the Royals would see them leap-frog their hosts into fourth place in the Group ‘A’ table which will be a remarkable effort after losing their opening seven matches.

Lancashire will be without former Worcestershire batsman Stephen Moore who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

Worcestershire Royals (from): Moeen, Solanki, Manuel, Kervezee, Mitchell, Cameron, Andrew, Cox (wkt), Choudhry, Shantry, Russell, Imran.