MATCH REPORT: Jennings century puts Lancs ahead at Blackpool
Ben Stokes took his first wickets of the summer, finishing the day with two for 70 from 17 overs, while Keaton Jennings scored his 28th first-class century as Lancashire made a competitive 350 for nine after being put in to bat by Durham on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship match at Blackpool.
Stokes last featured in a four-day game for Durham in May 2022. And with Lancashire going well on 163 for one, the England Test Match captain showed he still retains the knack of taking a wicket when his team needs it by luring Josh Bohannon (39) into a taking on a short delivery that the batsman top-edged into the hands of Callum Parkinson at deep backward square.
That wicket started a determined Durham fightback after Jennings and Luke Wells had equalled their best opening partnership of the season, posting 87 runs before Wells edged Matty Potts to slip for 27, with Jennings and Bohannon combining to add a further 76 to steer Lancashire into a strong position.
Stokes, who had struggled for a consistent line and length in his first two pre-lunch spells and had kicked the turf in frustration at times, then struck with the first ball of his ninth over. That wicket presumably brought some relief to Durham captain Scott Borthwick following his decision at the toss, as home skipper Jennings produced a brilliant century off 137 balls that included 15 fours.
On a wicket that gave the bowlers encouragement throughout the day, and particularly in the morning session, Jennings reached his fifty from 63 balls and went to his thirteenth Red Rose hundred from 137 balls. It was an outstanding innings.
From that point the Durham attack continued to make further inroads with Paul Coughlin having George Bell caught behind for eight before Callum Parkinson took the key wicket of Jennings, caught at mid-on attempting to hit over the top. Potts was finally rewarded for a fine afternoon spell when George Balderson edged behind for 14 to leave Lancashire on 255 for five.
The day was very much in the balance at that point, but Tom Bruce pushed the score with a careful and determined innings. The Kiwi overseas batter was going along nicely on 46 until Stokes struck again in a faster, more accurate fourth spell after tea, banging in a short delivery that found a leading edge with the ball ballooning gently back to the bowler.
Ben Raine backed up that breakthrough with the next three wickets to even up the day, having Tom Aspinwall caught at second slip for two, Matty Hurst brilliantly caught for 20 by wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson diving away to his left to take a quite magnificent catch, and then Will Williams lbw for nine.
A late onslaught by Saqib Mahmood, who thumped a six off Raine and a further five fours in a Lancashire-best 40 not out off only 48 balls meant the hosts ended the day the happier camp.
Mahmood and Nathan Lyon (5 not out) will be at the crease when play resumes tomorrow.
Century-maker Keaton Jennings said:
“At the start of the day seeing the movement we had to face, I’d have taken 350.
“You need a bit of luck in those conditions. I thought Luke Wells played beautifully, and the same with Josh (Bohannon).
“I thought the way we got through this morning, and the way we ran, was good.
“Hopefully we can knock them over with the new ball tomorrow.
“It was good fun but it wasn’t my most enjoyable knock in terms of fluidity.
“We’ve spoken a lot this week about trying to compete. Thankfully today I’ve made a contribution that can move us towards competing in the game.
“Hopefully we can keep them out there for a bit tomorrow morning and frustrate them. Saqib played beautifully, counterpunching and smacking the ball around.
“The guys in the dressing room loved it and were really engaged and bouncing around during his innings.”
“We’ve got to back up today for the rest of the match. There are some high class international cricketers playing against us.”
