SECOND XI MATCH REPORT: Lancs struggle as Essex build big lead
Lancashire’s bowlers knocked over the remaining four Essex wickets for 40 runs at the start of the second day of this Second XI Championship match to end the hosts’ first innings on 385. But the Red Rose side were then bowled out for 105 in reply with Noah Thain opting not to enforce the follow-on. By the close Essex were 127 for two in their second innings, leading by 407 runs.
Resuming on 345 for six, Essex were soon all out for 385 after Harry Singh had Ali Zeb caught at midwicket sweeping for 29, Simon Fernandes mistimed a pull off Louis Backhouse to be caught at mid-off for 21 while both Nav Dwivedi (14) and Aum Patel (0) edged behind off James Dunn leaving Jamie Porter 18 not out.
That was as good as it got for the Red Rose side who never recovered from the loss of early wickets.
Sav Perera, the left hander from the South Asian Cricket Academy making his Lancashire Second team debut, nicked a defensive push behind off Porter for 2, as did Singh for 8. George Bell on 5 gave Fernandes his third catch after chasing a wide delivery from Jamal Richards and the wicketkeeper made it four from four when Arav Shetty inside edged Luke Georgeson behind for 1 with Lancashire going to lunch on 23 for four.
Incredibly Fernandes took a fifth catch when play resumed after Josh Boyden edged a back foot drive off Thain for 6. Will Williams became the first Lancashire batter to reach double figures but on 17 drove Thain to backward point followed by Rocky Flintoff who inside edging onto his stumps off Georgeson for 6 to leave the Red Rose 60 for seven.
Joe Moores hit four fours in top scoring with 21 off 26 balls but the left hander was stumped off Patel to give Fernandes his sixth victim, the left arm spinner having earlier bowled Harry Birkman for 4. Richards wrapped up the innings on the stroke of tea by taking a diving one-handed catch off his own bowling from Dunn who hit three fours in his 17.
At the end of the innings Lancashire replaced Will Williams, who has joined up with the senior squad, with Uday Modhwadia while George Bell took over the captaincy duties.
Despite a lead of 280 runs Essex opted for the further batting, losing Feroze Khushi for 16 after the opener edged Boyden to Singh, and Nick Browne bowled by Shetty for 45. Thain (47 not out) and Richards (11 not out) will look to build the huge lead of 407 on day three.
TEAMS
ESSEX: Nick Browne, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley, Noah Thain (capt), Jamal Richards, Luke Georgeson, Ali Zeb, Simon Fernandes (wkt), Jamie Porter, Nav Dwivedi, Aum Patel, Alex Gosling.
LANCASHIRE: Harry Singh, Sav Perera, George Bell (wkt), Arav Shetty, Rocky Flintoff, Josh Boyden, Will Williams (capt), Joe Moores, Harry Birkman, James Dunn, Haider Hussain, Louis Backhouse.
Full substitute: Uday Modhwadia replaced Will Williams at the end of the Lancashire first innings.