MATCH REPORT: Anderson wickets help Lancashire take the advantage
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
James Anderson enjoyed a sensational return with two wickets to put Derbyshire on the back foot in this Rothesay County Championship match
Anderson’s brace from his one five-over spell plus wickets for Tom Hartley and Luke Wells left Derbyshire on 112 for four by the close, trailing by 346 runs to give Lancashire the advantage at the halfway stage of the game.
At the start of the day an attacking century partnership between George Bell and George Balderson along with useful runs from the lower order in the afternoon had helped add 208 runs to Lancashire’s overnight score with the hosts bowled out on the stroke of tea for 458.
Anderson struck with his 18th delivery, knocking back the off stump of Caleb Jewell for 16 and having peppered David Lloyd with a number of short-pitched balls found reward eight balls later when the batter gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst for 27.
Derbyshire suffered further blows when Wayne Madsen edged behind for 14 attempting to cut Hartley and Harry Came was bowled by Luke Wells for 31 five overs before stumps playing no shot.
Brooke Guest (14 not out) and nightwatchman Jack Morley (4 not out) will resume the Derbyshire innings in the morning.
Bell and Balderson dominated the morning session with an attacking approach that brought instant reward with 45 runs taken from the first ten overs.
Balderson, 1 not out overnight, initially led the way striking 11 boundaries in scoring fifty more runs from just 38 balls to reach his second half century of the season.
Bell, having resumed on 3, struck six fours in his fifty with the pair taking 53 balls to take their partnership from 50 to 100 as Derbyshire struggled to contain a scoring rate that was now rattling along at 4.5 runs per over.
The visitors finally made a breakthrough eight minutes before lunch when Balderson, somewhat unluckily, got a big inside edge onto his stumps off Morley for 73 to end the highest Lancashire sixth wicket partnership against Derbyshire at Emirates Old Trafford, and also the highest of the innings, on 133.
Undoubtedly it had been Lancashire’s morning with 130 runs added in 32 overs.
Bell edged a drive off Lloyd to Madsen at slip for 57 in the fourth over of the afternoon – 393 for seven – but the visitors were further frustrated by an excellent 61-run stand between Hartley – a season-best 42 – and Tom Bailey (29).
The innings ended abruptly as Hartley and Bailey fell in quick succession with the score on 454 and Anderson Phillip was out first ball four runs later after Anderson, who received his first ovation of the day when coming out to bat, swept Morley to the fine leg boundary.
Further ovations for Anderson soon followed and Lancashire will hope for more of the same tomorrow.
“We probably hammered it (the advantage) home today a bit more than probably what we've done in the past this season,” said George Bell.
“So it was nice to get a few runs myself with Balders and put a good partnership on there and put us in a good position going into tomorrow.
“We want to get ourselves in the position where we're the ones dictating the play driving the game forward, and we have done that.
And Bell relished being out in the middle to see Jimmy Anderson’s return.
“Jimmy was so good,” he said. “And Tommy (Hartley) and Wellsy picking up wickets as well there as well.
“I always enjoy it when Jimmy’s bowling, especially when he's stood in the slips.
“It's something that I didn't think I'd probably ever get the chance to do. So it's a pretty special moment seeing him come on from his own end. He bowled really well.
“And he came with clear plans and executed really well tonight.
“That first wicket there was just a bit of extra balance, a bit of zip as well that he's been getting off that pitch.
“He'll find anything in that pitch that there is to get, really.”
Bell was naturally pleased to have contributed some very useful runs today.
“I was pleased with how I've gone,” he said.
“It's been a while since I've been in the runs, so for me it was just trying to go back to basics, really.
“I know that I've been playing well from being back in the team. I just haven't quite kicked on.
“I felt like I probably got unlucky a couple of times in the previous two games. To get a small total to help the team has been really good for me, personally.
“It gives me a bit of confidence going into the rest of the season.”
Looking ahead to the remainder of this game he added:
“If we come hard tomorrow morning and try and get a couple more early wickets, I think we'll be in a great position. Obviously, you don't want to take it for granted because it is a good pitch.
“The bowlers are going to have to put a good shift in to get something out of it and take poles. Hopefully, they come raring to go tomorrow.
“I’m sure they will do and hopefully, it will be another good day.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
