SECOND XI MATCH REPORT: Boyden, Parkinson combine to save the draw against Glamorgan
A record partnership between Josh Boyden and Charlie Parkinson saved the draw as Lancashire batted through the whole of the final day at Abergavenney against Glamorgan.
The pair came together with the Red Rose side facing an innings defeat at 86 for six after following-on with the hosts’ Timm van der Gugten leading Glamorgan’s victory charge with three wickets.
But both Boyden and Parkinson reached maiden Second Eleven half centuries as they held out for one ball shy of 33 overs in just over two hours after coming together immediately before tea. Their partnership of 91 runs for the seventh wicket set a new Lancashire record against Glamorgan beating that of 63 by Peter Martin and John Stanworth at Manchester in 1993.
Van der Gugten finally broke their resistance by bowling Parkinson for 50 but the players shook hands on the draw in the following over with Boyden unbeaten on 72.
Lancashire started the day on 113 for nine in their first innings but last pair James Dunn (22) and Louis Backhouse (19 not out) put up good resistance, posting the highest partnership of the innings when adding 47 runs off 113 balls, and more importantly holding up the hosts for an hour.
Their alliance ended in unfortunate fashion when Dunn was run out at the bowler’s end attempting a sharp single with Lancashire 149 all out and following-on 184 runs in arrears.
Van der Gugten struck early in the second innings trapping Cian Dickinson for four, Asim Hameed had Gennaro Reddy caught at third slip for 8 followed by Harry Singh bowled by Ben Morris for 20.
After Finlay Richardson was caught and bowled by spinner Asa Tribe and van Gugten swiftly accounted for both Charlie Barnard and Haider Hussain it seems that the hosts would prevail.
But Boyden and Parkinson had other ideas, steering Lancashire to a fourth draw from four Second XI Championship matches this season.
Points: Glamorgan 13, Lancashire 11
TEAMS
Lancashire: George Lavelle (capt/wkt), Harry Singh, Cian Dickinson, Tom Aspinwall, Gennaro Reddy, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Boyden, Charlie Barnard, Haider Hussain, Charlie Parkinson, Harry Birkman, James Dunn.
Substitutes: Finlay Richardson and Louis Backhouse for George Lavelle and Jack Blatherwick at the start of day 3.
Glamorgan: Zen Malik, Tom Bevan, Will Smale (wkt), Asa Tribe, Henry Hurle, Dan Douthwaite, Prem Sisodiya (capt), Tom Norton, Jamie McIlroy, Timm van der Gugten, Harry Podmore, Ben Morris.
Substitute: Asim Hameed for Jamie McIlroy at the start of day 3.