MATCH REPORT: Seven-star performance by Anderson puts Lancs in charge
Seven wickets by James Anderson helped put Lancashire in a strong position against Nottinghamshire after three days of the Vitality County Championship match at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club.
Anderson, playing after a three-month break and in his first Championship match in over a year, warmed up for his final Test next week as if he had never been away with a sensational seven for 35 – the best figures in this season’s Championship – as Nottinghamshire were skittled for 126 in reply to Lancashire’s first innings 353 for nine declared.
Nathan Lyon took his 800th first-class wicket when the visitors followed-on 227 runs behind and they had reached 84 for two in their second innings by the close needing a further 143 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Jennings declared once Lancashire had scored the six runs needed for a third batting point and then watched from second slip as Anderson unleashed an astonishing ten over spell of six for 19 from the Harrod Drive End to destroy the Notts top and middle order line up.
If there was a shade of good fortune about his first wicket when Haseeb Hameed via a bottom edge deflected the ball just enough to clip the bails, the rest were the result of Anderson repeatedly hitting a perfect line and length on a good wicket but one that also offered some slight assistance.
Will Young was the next to depart when edging behind to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst followed by Joe Clarke caught at second slip for 0, while both Jack Haynes and Lyndon James fell caught fending off rib-high deliveries, the former at short leg and the latter via a glove to fourth slip.
Anderson took all six wickets to fall before lunch after Liam Patterson-White edged to give fourth slip another catch - the bowler receiving a standing ovation at the break - and suitably refreshed the England ace returned to have Dillon Pennington caught behind in the fifth over of the afternoon, for his 55th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and 22nd for Lancashire.
By then Tom Bailey had nipped in to take two wickets in two balls, ending a 41-run partnership between Ben Slater and Calvin Harrison when the latter edged behind, and having Olly Stone caught at second slip.
Last pair Slater and Dane Paterson, who hammered two massive sixes, hit out to add 42 runs for the last wicket – the biggest partnership of the innings – before a direct hit by Lyon ended the innings with Paterson (19) short of his ground, leaving Slater stranded having carried his bat for a valiant 64.
The left-handed batter was less fortunate when Notts followed-on, trapped lbw for 17 by Lyon to give the Australian his landmark wicket shortly after the tea interval.
And Lyon also broke a determined 31-run partnership off 103 balls between Hameed and Young when he had the Notts captain caught behind for 41.
With Lancashire camped around the bat and the batters intent on survival above all else, Young (11 not out) and Clarke (11 not out) safely negotiated their way through to the close and the visitors will have to show similar resolve tomorrow if they are to stave off defeat.
“That was one of our best days of the summer,” said Nathan Lyon.
“It was pretty amazing to come here to Southport and have Jimmy bowling as well.
“To do what he did this morning was pretty amazing to witness.
“Obviously I’ve seen it when I’ve been on the other side, when I’m not standing there saying ‘come on Jimmy’ so that was amazing to watch and amazing to be a part of.
“That’s the beauty of county cricket I guess, to come over here and play with arguably the greatest fast bowler to play the game has been pretty special.
“No disrespect to the other bowler’s playing in this game, the class of what Jimmy brings to the table, the extra zip off the wicket, the extra bounce he gets – and that’s not even mentioning his skills set - that ability to go both ways and also bowl the wobble seam.
“It was pretty cool being at mid off and actually have him tell me what he was actually doing, it was good fun.
“I’ve said this before, I’m very surprised that England have tapped him on the shoulder and said you’ve got one more Test and that’s it.
“He’s world-class. He’s probably the best to ever play the game as a fast bowler and his skill set especially in England is remarkable. “
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks, Luke Adams, Dan Adams.
