MATCH REPORT: Lancashire on verge of first Championship win
Lancashire have a first LV= Insurance County Championship win of the season in sight after bowling Hampshire out for 371 in their second innings and reaching 48 for two in pursuit of their 140-run target.
A three-wicket morning burst by George Balderson allowed the hosts to steadily work their way through the six remaining wickets but they were held up by a fine, determined, innings of 87 from visiting skipper James Vince on a hard-fought third day at sweltering Southport.
Hampshire were 119 for one, trailing by 113 runs when play resumed, and Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins made steady progress through the first 75 minutes, adding 39 runs to take their second-wicket partnership into three figures until Balderson’s intervention reshaped the nature of the morning session.
The Lancashire all-rounder produced a startling 23-ball spell of three for 6, trapping Gubbins lbw for 62, bowled Middleton for a career-best 77 with a delivery that kept a little low, and three balls later had Ben Brown caught behind for a duck.
James Vince rallied his troops with some sumptuous drives to take Hampshire ahead shortly after the break, before a moment of controversy saw George Bell claim his maiden first-class wicket. Liam Dawson attempted a reverse sweep against the off spinner and was clearly disappointed to be given out caught behind for 26, the batter gesticulating his displeasure as he walked off.
There was little debate when Will Williams trapped Felix Organ in front for 4 with Hampshire 252 for six and only 20 ahead.
But Vince and Keith Barker dug in to produce a determined alliance that had added 40 runs before Barker edged a drive off Tom Bailey to Daryl Mitchell to first slip for 18.
Mason Crane provided further solid support to help Vince take the Hampshire lead into three figures after tea before he edged Jack Blatherwick to Rob Jones at slip for 22.
Running out of partners, Vince hit out only to perish to a catch at deep square leg off Mitchell, but his superb effort had given Hampshire something bowl at, especially when Kyle Abbott added 23 more to the total before being last out to an outstanding catch by Williams at third man.
Chasing a target of 140, Lancashire made a nervy start losing Salt for 3 and Balderson for 2 to Mohammad Abbas and Barker respectively and it could been three if Vince had held on to a late chance at slip when Dane Vilas edged off Abbott.
But Lancashire are clear favourites to score the remaining 92 runs required tomorrow morning.
"It was a real battling day," said George Balderson.
"The pitch felt a bit flatter and we really had to toil to get our wickets.
“I think we can be very proud of our efforts and the position we’ve got ourselves into at the end of the day.
“We knew we had to keep bashing away, hit top of off stump, and thought we’d get our rewards eventually.
“We’d seen that wickets had fallen in clusters earlier in the game, so we kept faith that when we got one others might come, and that’s what happened."
Balderson was the one who put Lancashire on course with his three wicket burst just before lunch and he said:
“It was good fun. I switched ends from the first innings and found a bit of rhythm. When you get on a bit of a roll, sometimes that’s just the way it goes for you."
Lancashire are firmly in the driving seat going into the final day, and Balderson was disappointed not to be still out there in the middle.
“It was a poor shot I got out to," he admitted.
‘Salts’ got a pretty good ball. And luckily we had Bosh (Josh Bohannon) and Dane to see us through to the end of the day – two very calm heads.
“We have enough talent in our dressing room to get us over the line tomorrow.”
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks, Luke Adams, Dan Adams
