Second team in the runs against Leeds/Bradford UCCE
Lancashire’s Second eleven enjoyed a good day with the bat against Leeds/Bradford UCCE on the first day of this two-day friendly.
George Balderson and George Lavelle posted a century opening partnership when this much-delayed match finally got underway in sunny conditions at Weetwood, Leeds.
Both openers made half centuries, before Lavelle glanced a leg side delivery from Sam Ellis to wicketkeeper Tom Keast to depart for exactly 50 with the score on 112 in the 35th over.
Balderson twice hit left-arm spinner Joe Pocklington for straight sixes before top edging a pull off seamer Stanley Brown to Henry Dobson at fine leg after making an assured 80 and adding 99 for the second wicket with Rob Jones.
Jones was in fine form, hitting 4 sixes and 10 fours, on his way to an entertaining 84-ball century before he was eventually out for 105, edging a pull at a short Brown delivery to Keast.
Danny Lamb was bowled by Pockington for 9 before Lancashire declared on 288-4 after 70 overs with Matty Hurst 16 not out and Jack Blatherwick unbeaten on 7.
And it was Blatherwick who struck with the first ball of the Leeds/Bradford innings having Henry Dobson caught behind by Lavelle. Balderson followed with the wicket of Zak Perrens lbw for 1 with the hosts 11-2 but former Lancashire Academy batter Sam Dorsey (28 not out) and Abhishek Paradkar (50 not out) combined with an unbroken third wicket partnership of 77 to reach the close on 88-2.
Lancashire 12-man team: George Balderson, Cian Dickinson, George Lavelle, Rob Jones (capt), Danny Lamb, Matty Hurst, Arav Shetty, Jack Blatherwick, Harry Birkman (Lancs Academy), Charlie Barnard (Lancs Academy), Jack Morley, Tom Aspinwall.