SECOND XI REPORT: Bell top scores with 76 on opening day against Derbyshire
George Bell top-scored with 76 as Lancashire were bowled out for 269 on the opening day of this four-day friendly with Derbyshire at Repton School. The hosts replied strongly to reach 135-1 by the close.
After being put in to bat in seamer friendly conditions, Lancashire lost Kesh Fonseka for 14 playing on to Ben Aitchison, Harry Singh bowled by former England T20 pace bowler Pat Brown for 15 and Tom Aspinwall to a seaming delivery from Aitchison for 4 to find themselves 44-3 in the 12th over.
Jack Blatherwick helped Bell add 46 before being trapped lbw for 28 by left arm seamer Will Rogers but Bell pressed on to reach his half century off 69 balls just before lunch.
Rodgers next produced a great yorker to bowl George Harris for 6 seven overs into the afternoon and claimed his third wicket when Joe Chapple (6) drove to mid-on where Nicholas Potts took a good tumbling catch.
Bell and Josh Boyden added 48 in 7 overs before Bell, having played nicely in striking 9 fours, was lbw attempting to work Brown to leg for 76 (off 94 balls) while Boyden holed out to Potts at long-on off leg spinner Mitchell Wagstaff for 34.
Ollie Sutton added an unbeaten 32 before off spinner Alex Thomson wrapped up the innings by having both Charlie Barnard (12) and Mitch Stanley (13) taken at slip.
Will Tarrant was bowled for 12 by an excellent yorker from Blatherwick at the start of the Derbyshire reply but left hand bat Wagstaff, who posted his half century off 73 balls (9 fours), remained unbeaten on 69 alongside Muhammed Bin Naeem (37 not out), to steer Derbyshire to within 134 runs of Lancashire’s total at stumps.
TEAMS:
Lancashire: Harry Singh, George Harris, George Bell (capt/wicketkeeper), Kesh Fonseka, Jack Blatherwick, Tom Aspinwall, Josh Boyden, Charlie Barnard, Ollie Sutton, Haider Hussain, Joe Chapple, Mitch Stanley.
Derbyshire: Mitchell Wagstaff, Will Tarrant, Muhammed Bin Naeem, Alex Thomson (capt), George Lavelle (wicketkeeper), Joseph Hawkins, Nicholas Potts, Ben Aitchison, Pat Brown, Will Rogers, Jake Green.