MATCH REPORT: Lancs thwarted as Notts match ends in a draw
A century by Joe Clarke, backed up by some resolute Nottinghamshire batting and a 77-minute rain delay stymied Lancashire’s attempt to win a third Vitality County Championship match in four games at Southport.
The match ended as a draw at 4.55 pm with Nottinghamshire 270 for four in their second innings, 43 runs ahead.
Lancashire take 14 points from the game and Nottinghamshire 10 points, having had one point deducted for a slow over rate.
James Anderson struck with his seventeenth ball of the final day when Will Young edged behind for 17 after pushing forward at another good length delivery to give Lancashire early hope.
And wicketkeeper Matty Hurst then took a sharp catch to break a 43-run partnership between Clarke and Jack Haynes and give overseas off spinner Chris Green his maiden first-class wicket for Lancashire when Haynes nicked an attempted cut for 21.
That second wicket arrived just after the hour mark to leave Notts, who had started the day on 84 for two, in trouble on 134 for four and still 93 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.
But Clarke dug in on a wicket getting slower and flatter to reach fifty for the seventh time in his last 14 innings and he received further good support from Lyndon James (24 not out) in a partnership that had knocked 57 runs off the innings deficit in by the time rain forced the players off the field at 2.25pm.
Clarke stroked his way to a 185-ball century after play resumed at 4pm to finish unbeaten on 115 with James contributing 47 to an unbroken 136-run partnership, while Nathan Lyon bowed out leading the Red Rose wicket taking list with 26 wickets from his short spell at the club.
“I’ve absolutely loved it here,” said Lyon.
“The club has been absolutely fantastic from the players and coaches all the way through to the staff behind the scenes as well.
“They’ve made me and my wife and my little one very welcome straight away and I’ve made some mates for life here.
“I wouldn’t hesitate in coming back at all if everything lines up.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Seven days away from his final Test, Anderson bowled seven overs today taking one for 29 to bring his match figures to eight for 64 from 31 overs in what may be his final Lancashire outing.
If so, he will leave with an outstanding record of 376 wickets for Lancashire at an average of 21.31, and a host of memorable moments including yesterday’s sensational seven wicket haul at Trafalgar Road.
“I wish we could have Jimmy a bit longer!” said Head coach Dale Benkenstein.
“He showed his class and got us into a winning position.
“We don’t know if he’s going to play again for Lancashire,” he added.
“The positive thing is, it’s not a ‘no’. But we’re not pressurising him. He’s been fantastic, had an unbelievable career and, as you’ve seen, he can still definitely play!
“It will just whether he has the desire to want to play. Bowling is hard work and we’ll just let him make that decision when the time’s right.”
Benkenstein was pleased with the progress of the sides.
“We’re playing some really good cricket, he said.
“Obviously a lot of that is attributed to really top performances from two international stars.
“It’s always nice to have those quality players back.
“Keaton’s knock on a tricky pitch was also in a different league. We would have batted first if we’d won the toss.
“Two great performances gave us a real chance. It’s hard to force a win in two and a half days of cricket. If there had been a bit more time we probably could have a got a win there.
“Had we had enough time we would have batted in-between their innings to give the bowlers a rest. When you have to bowl from one innings into another, everyone gets a bit tired and it becomes a little bit harder work.
“Ideally you would want that break between the innings.
“I think the important thing for me is we seem to be getting better and we are playing much better cricket. There’s a really good spirit in the camp.
“We want to keep that momentum going through into the next T20 block and then finish strongly in the Championship. It’s a really tight league at the moment.”
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks, Luke Adams, Dan Adams
