SECOND XI REPORT: Carney, Lamb help Lancs post big total on first day against Notts
Jack Carney and Danny Lamb scored contrasting half-centuries that were both vital in turning around Lancashire’s fortunes on an eventful opening day of the Second Eleven Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Lady Bay.
Lamb scored a rapid 80 while Carney made an unbeaten 86 over four hours to revive the visitors innings from a position of 176-6 early in the afternoon. Carney and last man Charlie Barnard then completed the recovery with an unbeaten partnership of 71 as Lancashire closed strongly on 422-9.
Openers Matty Hurst and Cian Dickinson made an excellent start after Lancashire had won the toss, posting a 91-run partnership with Dickinson driving forcefully in hitting 11 fours on his way to a 49-ball half century while Hurst progressed steadily to reach 29.
Both were out in quick succession as Nottinghamshire hit back with four wickets falling for 32 runs before lunch, Hurst top-edging a pull off Tom Loten to give wicketkeeper Dane Schadendorf the first of four catches while Dickinson played over a pitched-up delivery from Bailey Wightman to be lbw for a run-a-ball 58.
James Hayes produced a rising delivery to have Arav Shetty caught behind for 6 and then saw Tom Aspinwall top-edged a pull to Schadendorf for 14 on the stroke of lunch.
Kesh Fonseka picked off some wayward deliveries to progress smoothly to 28 after the resumption but became Hayes’ third wicket when the bowler nipped one back to claim a successful lbw appeal.
When George Lavelle leg glanced Wightman to ‘keeper Schadendorf for 16, the hosts had fought back well to have Lancashire 176-6.
Lamb and Carney then restored the Red Rose advantage with a 99-run alliance for the seventh wicket, Lamb scoring 80 of them with a run-a-ball onslaught that contained two sixes – both struck off left arm spinner Fateh Singh - and 12 fours.
After Lamb departed via top edged a pull to midwicket, Carney – playing in his third Championship game – took over with a well-constructed, unbeaten, innings of 86 complied during the last four hours of the day.
Carney and Jon Fielding added 48 for the eighth wicket, Fielding hitting one six in his 24 while skipper Josh Boyden contributed 16 in helping Lancashire reach 351-9.
Southport’s Carney and last man Barnard joined forces to put Lancashire well on top with a fine partnership of 71 in 15 overs against a tiring Nottinghamshire attack who bowled too short and wide during the final hour.
Lancashire Academy player Barnard reached his maiden championship half century off 54 balls with 11 fours just before the close, finishing unbeaten on 51 off 57 balls while Carney struck 13 fours during his excellent, patient innings that has helped Lancashire reach an imposing 422-9.