SECOND XI MATCH REPORT: Westley century puts Lancs on the back foot
A century by Tom Westley dominated the opening day of this Second XI Championship match against Essex at Billericay with the hosts making 345 for six after being put in to bat.
Nick Browne and Feroze Khushi posted 46 for the opening wicket until Khushi edged a seaming delivery from Will Williams to Rocky FlIntoff at third slip for 31.
That brought Westley to the crease and the experienced the former England batter, who made an unbeaten 178 in his last outing in this competition six years ago, dominated the majority of the day’s play.
Westley reached his fifty off 107 balls and then stepped up the scoring to go to his fifth century at this level from a further 51 deliveries.
The Red Rose attack plugged away throughout removing three of Westley’s partners, with Nick Browne the next to go for 33 after edging Louis Backhouse behind to wicketkeeper George Bell just before lunch with the score on 87.
Westley and skipper Noah Thain then posted a century partnership off 160 balls during the afternoon before two wickets fell in quick succession just before tea; Thain edging behind off the spin of Harry Singh for 36 to end a 116-run alliance and Jamal Richards caught by Josh Boyden off Haider Hussain for 8.
Westley was going well on 159, having hit two sixes and 17 fours and adding 60 for the fifth wicket with Luke Georgeson, until he set for a single and his partner did not, Westley run out at the bowler’s end.
Georgeson fell for 26 edging Boyden to Singh at first slip in the final hour with Ali Zeb (24 not out) and Simon Fernandes (19 not out) reaching stumps without further loss.
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.