MATCH REPORT: Salt hits century as Lancs take advantage
Lancashire still hold the upper hand after two days of this LV= Insurance County Championship match at Southport, leading by 113 runs as they hunt a first red ball victory this season, but Hampshire have fought back hard after a poor first day to keep their hopes alive.
The visitors were indebted to a career-best six wicket haul by Felix Organ after Phil Salt had struck his first century for Lancashire with Daryl Mitchell and George Bell contributing significantly to the hosts first innings 374 to give the home side a huge 232-run lead.
A determined unbeaten second wicket partnership between Fletcha Middleton (44 not out) and Nick Gubbins (45 not out) then helped take 95 runs off that advantage as Hampshire closed on 119 for one in their second innings, but with a lot of work still to do if they are to turn this match around.
Salt, 76 not out overnight, moved on steadily through the first hour to reach his fifth first-class century and first for Lancashire off 132 balls with 14 fours, adding 74 with Josh Bohannon for the second wicket as the home side built on their three-run advantage at the start of play.
Hampshire produced a much more cohesive bowling performance today, bowling a tighter line and length, and Keith Barker and Mohammad Abbas were unfortunate not to have anything to show for their endeavours from the opening exchanges.
Instead it was Kyle Abbott who made the breakthrough when Josh Bohannon on 39 edged to Liam Dawson who took a good diving catch at second slip.
That was to be the unfortunate Dawson’s last contribution of the day. Moments later the left-arm spinner stationed at third slip sustained a facial injury when the ball was inadvertently deflected by Middleton diving for a catch at second slip. Dawson left the ground immediately to receive stitches for a badly cut upper lip.
Hampshire skipper James Vince turned to Organ and the off spinner rewarded his captain with a career-best six for 67 – his first wickets this season in red ball cricket – removing Salt with his second delivery when the Lancashire wicketkeeper edged to second slip for 103. Buoyed by that success Organ bowled Dane Vilas for six and had Rob Jones caught at midwicket for 18 from the last ball before lunch, with Lancashire 260 for five and ahead by 118.
Mitchell, who despatched his first three deliveries from Organ for two fours and a straight six, joined forces with Bell after the break with a punishing 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket that extend Lancashire’s lead just short of the two hundred mark.
Bell, picked for the first time as a specialist batter, produced a fluent, fearless, innings of 45 that bore all the precociousness of youth, and it took a decent ball from persevering Mohammad Abbas to trap the twenty-year-old lbw midway through the afternoon.
That dismissal saw Hampshire hit back, claiming the last five Lancashire wickets for 38 runs. Mitchell, who produced a classy, chanceless innings of 68 fell lbw to Abbott before Organ cleaned up the tail to restrict the home side’s lead to a much lower figure than looked likely when Bell and Mitchell were in tandem earlier.
“To come back in, contribute and put us in a good position was very pleasing,” said Phil Salt
“I felt like the wicket had a fraction more pace in it this morning," he added.
"I think they bowled well for extended periods of time, and they’ve got a very good seam attack.
“The ball is still doing a bit but we managed the risk as best we could and got a decent score on the board."
Salt's attacking innings made great viewing yesterday and he said:
“The choice was made for me, the way I was going to play, when we bowled them out yesterday.
"It was a good chance to come out and throw a few punches their way.
"And after being three short on debut, it was nice to get the century," he added.
“I’m really pleased with the way the rest of the boys came out and played on what can be a tricky wicket at times."
It was the first time that Salt had opened in the Championship for Lancashire.
“Chappie rang me a few days ago to float the idea," he revealed.
"I’ve done it before for Sussex. So I was very happy to put my hand up and do it."
Looking ahead to tomorrow, he said:
“Tomorrow the first hour will be crucial. Hopefully we get a couple of quick wickets and take the upper hand in this game.”
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks, Luke Adams, Dan Adams.
