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Fuming Lancs fans boycott Oval

The Lancashire Lightings Twenty20 dream day has turned into a nightmare for angry fans. And they are giving Saturday's Oval showpiece the thumbs-down.

The Lancashire Lightings Twenty20 dream day has turned into a nightmare for angry fans. And they are giving Saturday's Oval showpiece the thumbs-down.

Only 1,000 Red Rose supporters will be there to roar on Mark Chilton's side when they take on Surrey in the first match on finals day, highlighting a crazy situation which the England Cricket Board need to sort out.

Staging the four-team showdown at the Oval has made it virtually impossible for Lancashire supporters to watch their side bid for their first major trophy in six years.

Yet Surrey will be roared on by thousands on their home ground.

Lancashire's chief executive Jim Cumbes said: "Having the semis and the final on the same day at the Oval makes it extremely difficult for our supporters to get to the match.

"The cost of a family travelling down to London is prohibitive if they have to spend a night, or maybe two, in a hotel.

"And those going on the coaches we are laying on from Old Trafford will have to leave home around 5am on Saturday and not get back until 24 hours later. That's not enjoyment, it's an endurance test."

Lancashire will be handing back a third of their 1,500 ticket allocation, judging by the lack of interest shown so far, and captain Mark Chilton said: "It's a shame. The crowd can give you a real lift but we just have to get on with it and we will be totally focused on the job in hand."

Cumbes added: "It is a long way to go, and a lot of money to pay out, especially if we get knocked out in the semi which is what happened last year. However, that was at Edgbaston which was much more accessible.

"We need the semis and the final to be held on separate days, with the final at Lord's. That would still mean a trip to London for three hours of cricket, but with a 2.30pm start, fans could get there and back in reasonable time and still have a great day out."

Another idea which has been floated is to have a two-legged final with the aggregate runs deciding the winner, but that has found little support.

Somerset, who along with Leicestershire, make up the semi-finalists, are also hard-hit by the choice of ground and Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons said: "It would be a lot easier if Edgbaston was the venue.

"Travelling costs, hotels and tickets which aren't that cheap. It mounts up to a very expensive occasion for our fans. I wonder also if security fears are another problem."

The attitude of the England Cricket Board is that the finals days have proved successful in the past and that the venue had to be decided well before the start of the season.

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