COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Old Trafford:
Lancashire v Worcestershire
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Lancashire 119-8, Worcestershire 172 (Lancashire 3pts) 10-13 July 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

Mason's five-for helped blast through the Worcs batting order

Worcestershire seamer Matt Mason took five wickets to dismantle Lancashire at Old Trafford on the opening day of this County Championship encounter.

Mason, alongside fellow medium-pacer Ashley Noffke (3-42), left Lancashire struggling in their first innings on 119-8, with Glen Chapple on 22 not out.

The visitors had earlier fell to the Lancashire seamers to finish all out for 172.

Steve Davies top-scored with 39, while Vikram Solanki weighed in with 35.

Worcestershire made a disappointing start with the bat, reaching just nine runs before opener Daryl Mitchell was sent scurrying back to the pavilion, overseas star VVS Laxman claiming him off the bowling of Sajid Mahmood for a duck.

Stephen Moore followed with the score on 35 having made 23. Solanki then hit 35 from 74 balls, including six fours, before falling to leave Worcestershire on 71-3.

Ben Smith (19) and Moeen Ali (8) then went cheaply, trapped lbw by Kyle Hogg as Lancashire threatened to take control with the visitors 86-5, but Steve Davies' arrival at the crease was a steadying influence.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Lancs dramatic collapse

Davies' 39 mirrored that of Solanki's, as it included six fours, coming from 75 balls, before he was disposed of for Mahmood's second wicket of the afternoon.

Noffke, Gareth Batty and Gareth Andrew all surrendered to seam assault, although tail-enders Chris Whelan and Mason put up a fight, notching 15 and 13 runs apiece before succumbing with Worcestershire on 172.

Lancashire too made a poor start, Paul Horton falling to Noffke on four, while Mal Loye (24), Mark Chilton (13) and VVS Laxman (19) all tumbling on a decent pitch with good conditions.

Mason's swing was causing all kinds of problems for the Lancashire batsmen on their own pitch, as Steven Croft (9), Kyle Hogg (1) and Luke Sutton for a duck all diminished to his gentle movement.

Glen Chapple's unbeaten 22 at stumps guided Lancashire past the 100 mark and was a rare chink of light in an extremely disappointing innings, as he outlasted Saj Mahmood (3) to finish the day with Oliver Newby (11) on 119-8.

Worcestershire will almost certainly hope to bowl the remains of the Lancashire tail out in their morning session, and build a second innings total that is easily defendable.

Lancashire head coach Peter Moores told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I was very pleased to bowl them out for 170, the ball swung as much as I think we've seen it for a long time.

"I hoped we'd finish off in a strong positions but we lost key wickets on occasions throughout the day.

"It wasn't easy batting for both sides, the pitch has got some pace in it and it swung all day but that doesn't mean we can't bat on it either.

"We're in a scrap, but because the scores on both sides are so low we're still in the game, we've got to make sure we look at it, address where we are, try to get where can in this innings, bowl them out and win the game."

Worcestershire's five-wicket hero Matt Mason told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I went for a few runs in my first two overs and that spurred me on.

"I just thought 'I have got to come back and bowl maidens and keep building pressure on the guys'

"When I saw it swinging it as much as it was I thought 'If I just keep bowling and hang in there'

"I don't think I got a wicket until my tenth over but after that I was lucky enough to find the edge and get a few lbws."

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