Bohannon at the double as Lancs close in on win
A career-best double century by Josh Bohannon along with a scintillating century by Dane Vilas helped put Lancashire in complete control of this LV= Insurance County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Bohannon and Vilas dominated this third day with their 203-run partnership closing Gloucestershire out of the game during the first two sessions before the Red Rose bowlers ripped out three top order wickets during the final session to close in on a second consecutive victory of the season.
Resuming on 289-3 in windy, chilly conditions in reply to Gloucestershire’s 252 all out, Vilas wasted little time before clipping Ryan Higgins through midwicket for four to bring up his fifty (off 51 balls).
The well-wrapped up spectators were soon able to warm their hands and show their appreciation when Bohannon reached his third score of 150 and the Lancashire pair settled into a continuation of the excellent form of the previous day, defending when necessary and taking advantage of any poor deliveries.
They comfortably steered Lancashire to 323-3 after 110 overs - and a third batting point - and then set about building a big total to heap the pressure on the visitors.
Bohannon drove gloriously through extra cover off Jared Warner after an hour’s play on his way to passing his previous best of 174 made against Derbyshire three years ago.
His double century never looked in doubt and Bohannon reached the landmark on the stroke of lunch to great acclaim, quickly followed by Vilas who moments later posted a second consecutive century following his 124 against Kent last week.
That meant, somewhat quirkily, no wickets had fallen in any of three morning sessions of this match when the rested bowlers are normally at their most effective – a fairly rare occurrence.
Wickets did fall in the afternoon however.
Vilas was the first to go when the Lancashire skipper tried to loft Josh Shaw over point but was caught by Miles Hammond over his head at that position for 109 to end an outstanding partnership of 203 with Bohannon that had put Lancashire well into the ascendancy.
Phil Salt helped Bohannon pile on the runs with a 49-run partnership, Bohannon hitting Graeme van Buuren for a straight six, before both fell at the same score of 486.
Salt was stumped for 21 after going down the wicket to hit spinner Zafar.
Then Bohannon’s epic 9 and a quarter hour effort came to an end at 231 – the highest innings for Lancashire against Gloucestershire - when he gloved a sweep off spinner Graeme van Buuren that popped up to wicketkeeper James Bracey.
Bohannon departed to another well-deserved ovation for a very fine innings.
Danny Lamb took up the attack with an unbeaten 41 off 46 balls including two sixes, one of them a reverse pull off Jared Warner, while Hassan Ali also unfurled a reverse sweep for six in his 11.
Lamb and Saqib Mahmood punished the tiring visitors’ attack further with an unbeaten alliance of 55 before Vilas called a halt at tea with Lancashire’s 556-7 declared their highest-ever total against Gloucestershire.
Left arm spinner Zafar was the pick of the visiting attack, bowling a marathon 65 overs - the most by a Gloucestershire bowler equalling Tom Goddard’s record from 1938 - and picking up 4-135.
Trailing by 304 runs going into their second innings, Gloucestershire lost both openers to catches behind the wicket with just 36 runs on the board.
James Anderson produced some extra bounce to find the edge of Marcus Harris’ bat while Chris Dent, having cut Mahmood for four, edged another attempted cut with Salt taking a good, leaping catch.
And with 7 overs left Hassan Ali produced the ultimate fast yorker that smashed James Bracey’s middle stump into two pieces to leave Gloucestershire struggling to save the game on 61-3.
Hammond (26 not out) and van Buuren (3 not out) survived to reach the close with Gloucestershire 67-3 and still 237 runs behind going into the final day.
Dane Vilas was delighted with the performances from all the team this season. .
"Personally I've hit the ground running,” he said, “but then I think everyone has. Everyone is playing well.
"Josh (Bohannon) has been batting incredibly well for the last few seasons. Everything is clicking for him and every day he is learning his game and improving in every game he plays.
"His hunger for runs is brilliant to see. He has taken a big step forwards for us and a key position in any team is the number three batsman and he wants to bat there. I'm really proud of him.
"With his technique he can handle anything whether he's batting at three or four and it's really good to see. I know he's worked a lot in the off season trying to tweak some improvements from last season and he really wants to do better which is a huge plus for us and him.
And Vilas isn’t underestimating the task ahead tomorrow.
“It’s a really good wicket but there’s a bit more rough out there for the spinners,” he said. “They’ve got some good players who can handle the pressure situations so it’s going to be a tough ask. But saying that, the way we bowled in the first innings was excellent.
And those three wickets tonight were three big wickets and something for us to build on tomorrow. They’ve still got some good players to come but hopefully we can put seven really good balls in the right area.
“We know that things can speed up on day four. That cliché of if you get one wicket you can get two quickly (does apply). We’ll be pushing for that. The way we’ve played this game so far, and bowling Gloucester out first day, has bought us a lot of time in the game, and we can use that tomorrow.”
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks & Luke Adams
