MATCH REPORT: Lancashire enjoy record-breaking day at Blackpool
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon and Ashton Turner all made centuries as Lancashire batted way past the Kent first innings total of 374 to each stumps on 639-9 – the highest-ever total in matches between these sides – to have a lead of 265 runs going into the final day of this Rothesay County Championship match at Blackpool.
The day was dominated by three big partnership for Lancashire of 136 runs between Wells and Bohannon for the third wicket, 174 between Bohannon and Turner for the fourth and an astonishing 90-run assault in 7 overs between Turner and Michael Jones for the sixth, to back up the 119-run opening stand between Wells and Keaton Jennings yesterday.
Starting the day on 120-1, Wells and nightwatchman Tom Bailey batted steadily through the first hour with Bailey making a useful 25 until trapped lbw by Joey Evison.
Bohannon took 25 balls to get off the mark during which time he was dropped by Evison off his own bowling, although it would have been a sensational catch if the Kent man had some how clung on to the chance in the same way as Jimmy Neesham did against Bohannon in the T20 at Durham a few weeks ago.
Bohannon slowly settled in as Wells went to his century in the run up to lunch when cutting Jack Leaning for four. It was Wells’ 10th century for Lancashire and his 28th first-class ton coming off 195 balls with 1 six and 12 fours.
Their fifty partnership came off 86 balls moments before rain brought an early lunch with Lancashire 225-2 having added 105 runs in the session.
After the break the pair, who put on 312 runs against these opponents twelve months ago, upped the tempo, starting with Bohannon pulling Grant Stewart for six into the parkland that surrounds most of this picturesque ground.
Wells followed suit bringing up the century partnership in some style by hitting Wes Agar for 4, 4, 6 sequence off consecutive deliveries, while Bohannon deposited Kashif Ali over square leg for six more.
Bohannon straight drove Joey Evison for four to reach his fifty off 102 balls, with Wells hitting Parkinson for six to post his third score of 150 plus for the Red Rose but then departing for 152 off the next delivery when attempting to repeat the shot but instead finding Agar at long-off.
That rare success for the visitors did little to stem the runs as Turner became the dominant partner with a steady flow off attacking shots that pushed Lancashire past the 400-mark and to four batting points before the 110-over cut-off for bonus points.
Turner’s third six brought up the century partnership with Bohannon off 129 balls with Australian having contributed 61 of them.
Bohannon went to his 14th first-class century and 13th for Lancashire off 191 balls containing 3 sixes and 9 fours before his fine innings ended on 124 in the hands of Wes Agar at long-on off the bowling of Jack Leaning.
Turner followed to his century on Lancashire debut, the sixth of his career, soon afterwards off just 117 balls with 4 sixes and 6 fours – and he wasn’t finished.
After Matty Hurst had contributed a quick 21, Turner and Michael Jones ripped into a tiring Kent attack during the final hour with their rip-roaring 90-run partnership, Turner posting a career-best when passing 128 and reaching his 150 from 145 balls.
Turner finally fell for 154 (6 sixes, 11 fours) caught in the deep hitting out off Parkinson as did Jones after his rapid his 22-ball innings of 41.
Chris Green made 20 off 19 balls, Mitch Stanley 2 with George Balderson 9 not out and skipper James Anderson 2 not out to end a remarkable day that saw 508 runs scored.
Lancashire’s remaining task – a tough one given how the wicket has played so far – is to take ten Kent wickets tomorrow.
“It's always fun to get some runs,” said Ashton Turner.
“It doesn't always work out like that.
“Firstly, to be able to make my debut for Lancashire. It's an immensely proud club with a lot of history. To be part of that list of first-class players for the county, I'm very proud of that achievement.
“Secondly, to be able to be a part of what was an amazing day for the club. There were contributions throughout the batting order. I think we put the Kent bowlers under some pressure and the fielders under a lot of pressure all day.
“On what's been a pretty docile wicket, we now find ourselves in a position where if we bowl really well tomorrow, we have a chance to win the game.
“I've fielded the last couple of days and I saw at times it could be a nice place to bat. We also saw it was spinning a bit.
“Once you get the pace of the wicket and are able to adjust to the conditions, it can get a little bit easier as you spend a little bit of time out there. Going into tomorrow, we're going to hope that it continues to spin.
“I think that'll be a big part of the way forward for us and how we're going to win this game.
“Hopefully we can get a little bit of inconsistent spin. We're going to have attacking fields for most of the day, I would suspect. With that, hopefully there will come some opportunities.
“Then it comes down to a little bit of luck on the day. Can you find the edge? As a fielding unit, it's our job to take the opportunities. We might create ten chances.
“It's up to us to try and take them all.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
