By John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
Winning the toss on a clear and sunny morning skipper Noah Kelly asked Lancashire to have first use of a wicket with a “greenish” tinge.
Matt Milnes, having his first competitive bowl since injury, opened the attack along with Bradley Sylvester but it was the introduction of Jay Singh that brought the breakthrough having Harry Singh caught behind by Jonny Tattersall for 26 – the opening pair had added 63 in 96 deliveries.
The Lancashire Captain, George Bell came in at number 3 and he and Keshana Fonseka remained unbeaten at lunch – Lancashire 130-1, Bell 45 no and Fonseka 46 no. Bell reached 50 first from 39 balls with 10 fours then Fonseka from 98 balls with 8 fours. Their partnership had reached 147 from 156 balls when, in his 4th over, Dan Moriarty had Bell lbw for 97 from 79 balls with 17 fours.
From 210-1 Lancashire crashed to 225-7, Moriarty taking 4- 18 and Singh 3-34. However, Joe Chapple and Oliver Sutton “steadied the ship” and tea was reached without further loss at 297-7. After tea we had a stoppage of 30 minutes due to a heavy shower but Chapple and Sutton extended their partnership to 126 before the former was lbw to Jawad Akhtar for 67 made from 98 balls with 2 fours and 4 maximums.
Sutton had reached his half century from 75 balls with 8 fours and he remained not out at the close on 73 and Lancashire had totaled 402-9.
Dan Moriarty ended the day with 4-61 from 24 overs, Matt Milnes got 10 overs in the tank and probably the pick of the bunch was Jay Singh with 3-48 from 14 overs.
