Jennings makes unbeaten half century as Lancashire battle hard against Northants
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
Keaton Jennings remains unbeaten on 60 as Lancashire made 139 for four in reply to Northamptonshire’s 496 all out on the second day of this Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
Justin Broad took two wickets to have Lancashire in early difficulties before Jennings and Marcus Harris steadied matters with a partnership of 84 before the latter fell just before the close followed by nightwatchman Anderson Phillip in the final over with Lancashire trailing by 357 runs going into the third day.
Jennings, whose lowest effort in his three early season innings is 49, looked in great touch, pulling consecutive deliveries from Broad for four and six on his way to his half century from 117 balls.
Broad struck twice following his introduction to the attack in the 11th over, his fourth delivery finding just enough movement to trap Michael Jones lbw for 14 with the score on 22 before removing Josh Bohannon for five with a delivery that ripped out the batters off stump.
Harris played some free-flowing drives in making 43 but fell to a great diving catch at midwicket by Broad off Raphy Weatherall five overs before stumps.
At the start of the day, Saib Zaib could only add five runs to his overnight 111 before edging behind off Phillip attempting to repeat the drive that had earned him four runs the previous ball.
Broad helped McManus boost the total by 48 runs until he was run out for 19 by Tom Bailey’s direct hit from midwicket as the visitors reached the 110-over mark on 405 for seven.
McManus, who had reached his fifty earlier from 97 balls, marshalled the lower order superbly during the first half of the day and found a willing assistant in Calvin Harrison. The loan signing from Nottinghamshire gave steady support in an 81-run partnership inside 30 overs for the eighth wicket that included reverse sweeping Hartley for four to reach his half century from 87 balls.
It proved to be a frustrating passage of play for Lancashire who bowled spinners Hartley and Luke Wells in tandem for the final 33 overs of the innings in an attempt to dry up the run scoring and exert some pressure.
The innings ended abruptly with the final three wickets falling for 12 runs, starting when McManus became the second Northamptonshire batter to fall agonisingly short of a hundred in two days.
Having seen David Sales perish for 92 yesterday, McManus departed in similar fashion on 95, top-edging a front foot slog off a Wells delivery pushed wider that went high to Bohannon at mid-off. Hartley (3-91) then wrapped things up bowling both Guthrie for a duck and Harrison for 56.
“It was a tough day,” admitted Tom Hartley.
“It was not ideal losing that last wicket at the end, but I thought we battled hard.
“We just had to graft that out really. We got the wickets this morning in the end, but that's a healthy total for them.
“The pitch wasn't doing a whole lot that first day. The ball didn't really spin though apart from a bit out of the rough towards the end. We felt like we could have bowled a bit better at times, but in general, I thought we were good.
“It was just good to get overs in the bank, show what I can do, and to finish with three was pretty nice. For me, it just allows me to bowl a few more variations. It's probably something I should take into shorter spells, but I think it's just good learning for me overall.”
“It’s about getting that balance right of still tying people down but not making it too easy for them. And I think for me, especially on pitches like that, throwing in a lot of changes and pace variations is important. I think if I bowl six of the same a few times, a few overs in a row, I think people get used to it.
“Throwing in variations, even three, four an over, I think is quite key for me, just to keep people in the crease and sort of guessing a little bit more.
“I think with the weather we've been having, I think the pitches could suit a lot more spin this year. So, I'm just really excited to really do well this game, hopefully take a few wickets in the second innings on a bit more of a turning wicket and then just play consistently, hopefully, throughout the summer.”
Ken Grime
Images: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
