MATCH REPORT: Advantage Lancs after century opening partnership
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
An unbroken century opening partnership between Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings has given Lancashire the advantage going into the final day against Middlesex at Emirates Old Trafford.
Having bowled Middlesex out for 211, with Tom Aspinwall finishing with four wickets in just his second Championship game of the season, the Red Rose opening pair replied with 105-0 to trail by 106 runs.
That start gives Lancashire the opportunity to bat past the visitors tomorrow and then apply some pressure with the ball – provided there are no further weather interruptions in a game where 201 overs have already been lost.
Lancashire made short work of claiming the two remaining Middlesex wickets for 22 runs in just 6.4 overs when play finally began at 3pm.
Aspinwall picked up both to finish with 4-62, having Zafar Gohar caught for 25 hooking to fine leg where sub fielder Will Williams took a nicely judged catch on the run, and last man Henry Brookes caught behind for 2.
Williams was fielding in place of skipper James Anderson who was absent with a side injury that required a scan.
Jennings and Wells survived a searching opening spell from Ryan Higgins and Toby Roland-Jones to build a good opening partnership that included Wells pulling Roland-Jones for six over midwicket in the sixth over.
The opening pair had put 44 runs on the board from 11 overs by tea and reached their fifty partnership from 70 balls shortly after the break.
Wells was the chief aggressor from that point, hitting the shot of the day when whipping a decent length ball from Seb Morgan over the longest boundary at midwicket for six on his way to a 71-ball half century.
Wells added a third six off the second delivery from Zafar Gohar before bad light ended the day nine overs early – making a total of 210 overs lost in this match – with Wells 60 not out and Jennings unbeaten on 36.
“I think it's been a really good day,” said Tom Aspinwall.
“We cleaned the tail up, which we may have struggled with this year, so it's really good to get the last two wickets early.
“It's been a long time coming since the first game of the year, so it's great to be back out there,” he admitted.
“It's been enjoyable and frustrating season at the same time, really. I’ve played a good amount of cricket, just not consistently.
“The challenge (from here) is to definitely try and stay injury-free and keep on putting in consistent performances.
“I’m trying to finish well this season, have a big winter and hopefully hit next year running.
“I feel like everyone's on an even pegging, so you've just got to try and keep on doing well and then putting in good performances.”
Aspinwall believes there’s still a chance for a positive outcome in this game.
“Hopefully. I think we're in a really good position to force a win,” he said.
“The wicket has a little bit more in it than usual, but it's a good cricket wicket.
“I don't think it’s doing as much as yesterday, but there's still a little bit in there, especially with the new ball.
“There's nothing really to lose, and there's only one day left, so we might as well give it our all.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams
