GRIFFITHS OFFERS UP A CUP OF CHEER
Rookie fast bowler is big positive from indifferent Royal London displays
CAPTAIN Steven Croft has hailed the form of fledgling fast bowler Gavin Griffiths as a positive to take out of Lancashire’s disappointing Royal London one-day Cup campaign.
The Lightning are staring down the barrel of elimination at the group stages having only won one of their five matches so far.
They need to win their last three to have any chance of progression, starting against Kent at Canterbury on Saturday.
It has not been an easy last fortnight for a side who are flying high at the top of the LV= County Championship’s Division Two and have a NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final to look forward to next weekend.
Still, 21-year-old seamer Griffiths has played three of four completed matches and has caught the eye along the way.
Griffiths has taken four wickets, including three in Tuesday’s defeat against competition favourites Nottinghamshire at Liverpool.
The Ormskirk quick signed professional terms at Lancashire back in 2013.
But had only played one first-team match before the start of this season, against Northamptonshire in the RL50 last August.
He took advantage of injuries to fellow fast bowlers George Edwards and Nathan Buck to play in this competition this summer, and picked up his first wicket in last week’s win over Middlesex at Blackpool before returning an impressive 3-41 in a losing cause against Notts.
He claimed the wickets of England limited overs opener Alex Hales, powerful Riki Wessels and exZimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor.
Hales was even dismissed courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled effort, one-handed low to his left.
“I think that Gavin has done really well for us” said Croft.
“He bowled from the tough end again at Liverpool, which he didn’t moan about and just got on with it. He took the first three, who were the heart of their innings really.
“James Taylor stuck in well and nearly got them over the line. But Gav was really pleasing.
“He’s not played a lot of cricket for us, but he got in on merit really.
“There were a couple of injuries, but he was next in line and has taken his chance.
“At Essex, he had the tough end and it was a similar situation against Notts. The pitch flattened out, and we didn’t really
‘Gavin has done really well for us and he has taken his chance’
The impressive form of Gavin Griffiths has been one of the positives for Lancashire from their otherwise indifferent start to the Royal London Cup have many runs to play with.
“I thought he bowled well at Blackpool with only one wicket as well.
“It was a tough call to leave him out (against Warwickshire), but he responded in the best way possible by getting three wickets.
“It’s important for him to take wickets, not just to play. When you play, it’s a question you ask. Can I do it at this level?
“He will take a huge deal from getting threefor, and their top three as well.” »