SECOND XI REPORT: Five wickets for Blatherwick and three for Mahmood v Leeds/Bradford UCCE
Jack Blatherwick took five wickets and Saqib Mahmood three as Lancashire bowled out Leeds/Bradford University for 193 on the opening day of this three-day friendly at Weetwood. In reply Lancashire had reached 113-1 at stumps, 80 runs in arrears, with George Bell unbeaten on 53 and Kesh Fonseka 47 not out.
It was a welcome return to red ball cricket for Mahmood who bowled ten overs he continues to ease himself back into action following his injury issues in recent seasons.
An opening spell of 5-3-6-1 included the wicket Nico Boje for 3, and the fast bowler returned for second five-over spell of 2-8 as Mahmood had both Stuart van der Merwe and Charlie Dunnett caught behind by Bell for a nicely-constructed 53 and 17 respectively.
Blatherwick struck with two wickets in consecutive deliveries, trapping both Tom Moulton (2) and Aman Hussain (10) lbw that left the hosts struggling on 19-3, and he returned to break an 80-run partnership between van der Merwe and Tim Lloyd, the latter caught by Mitch Stanley for 34.
The 26-year-old seamer added the wickets of Stanley Brown (2) and Calum Fletcher (0) to finish with 5-57 as Leeds/Bradford University fell from 122-4 to 141-9 with Charlie Barnard picking up the other wicket by trapping Archie Houghton lbw for 0.
But Lancashire were held up by a battling last wicket partnership of 52 between Henry Pearson, who finished unbeaten on 53, and Liam Buteel, ended when Stanley bowled the latter for 8.
Despite the early loss of Harry Singh for 1, Lancashire made a positive reply with Bell striking a 61-ball unbeaten half century and he will be alongside Fonseka, who made 47, when play resumes at 11am tomorrow.
TEAMS
Lancashire: Harry Singh, George Bell, Kesh Fonseka, Gennaro Reddy, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Boyden, Saqib Mahmood, Charlie Barnard, Hassan Mughal, Haider Hussain, Joe Chapple, Mitch Stanley.
Leeds/Bradford UCCE: Nico Boje, Aman Hussain, Tom Moulton, Tim Lloyd, Stuart Van der Merwe (capt/wicketkeeper), Charlie Dunnett, Henry Pearson, Stanley Brown, Archie Houghton, Calum Fletcher, Liam Bulteel, IJ Bepey.