SECOND XI REPORT: Lamb leads Lancs fightback after Scriven century boosts Leics
An unbeaten 49 by Danny Lamb and 44 from Arav Shetty headed the Lancashire reply of 133-6 after a century by Tom Scriven had propelled Leicestershire to 316-8 declared on the third day at Southport & Birkdale Sports Club.
But with so much time lost to the weather over the first three days, it will take more declarations tomorrow to force a result - provided the Red Rose avoid the follow-on - with just one day remaining.
Overnight rain and a wet outfield saw play delayed until after lunch at 1.10pm with Leicestershire continuing their first innings for a third day, resuming on 189-6 with Scriven quickly getting the two runs required to reach a 59-ball half century.
And Scriven went on to post an excellent 124-ball century that included a brace of sixes – both hit over long-on off the spinners – and 10 fours to finish unbeaten on 112.
Matt Parkinson claimed his own brace, and the only two Leicestershire wickets to fall today – having Nick Welch caught by Tom Aspinwall at midwicket for 12 and Roman Walker caught behind by George Lavelle for 1.
That left the visitors on 218-8 but Scriven found great support from the Foxes’ skipper Will Davies in a partnership of 98 across 19 overs, with Davies clubbing a six of his own before declaring at 316-8 once he had reached his own half century off 68 balls.
Lancashire suffered early setbacks losing both openers to edges behind off Davis; Lavelle for 9 in the seventh over and Harry Singh for 6 after a patient 51-minute stay.
Luke Wood fell to a leg side ‘strangle’ against Walker giving wicketkeeper Harry Swindells his third catch of the innings with Lancashire 52-3.
Shetty produced a nicely constructed innings of 44, carefully negotiating the early overs when the ball moved around before going on to play some attractive shots in a 42-run partnership with Lamb. But Swindells pulled off a smart stumping after Shetty had been drawn forward and out of his crease by spinner Harris Sullivan.
Off spinner Louis Kimber then claimed two wickets in quick succession bowling Aspinwall for 2 and trapping Saqib Mahmood lbw for 3.
Lamb drove and cut to great effect in making an unbeaten 49 that included 4 fours off one Sam Wood over to steer Lancashire to 133-6 at the close, 183 runs behind.
Score Summary
Lancashire v Leicestershire at Southport, Day 3
Lancashire trail by 183 runs with four first innings wickets left.
Leicestershire 1st inns 316-8 dec (84 overs) Scriven 112*, Davis 50*, Kimber 38, Mahmood 4-28, Parkinson 2-58, Lamb 1-45, Blatherwick 1-63
Lancashire 1st inns 133-6 (51 overs) Lamb 49*, Shetty 44, Davis 2-17, Kimber 2-9.
Lancashire won the toss and opted to bowl
Teams
Lancashire: Harry Singh, George Lavelle (wkt), Arav Shetty, Luke Wood, Danny Lamb, Tom Aspinwall, Jack Blatherwick, Saqib Mahmood (capt), Matt Parkinson, Jack Morley, Charlie Barnard (Lancs Academy), Harry Birkman (Lancs Academy).
Leicestershire: Sam Evans, Sam Wood, Louis Kimber, Harry Swindells (wkt), Scott Steel, Tom Scriven, Joe Johnson, Nick Welch, Roman Walker, Will Davis (capt), Ed Barnes, Harris Sullivan.