SECOND XI REPORT: Harris and Sutton lead Lancashire fightback at Repton
Half centuries by George Harris and Ollie Sutton led a good Lancashire fightback on the third day against Derbyshire at Repton School with the visitors making 388 in their second innings to set the home side a target of 309 to win. Derbyshire made an excellent start to their run chase, reaching 117-1 by the close to need 192 more runs for victory tomorrow.
Lancashire’s immediate task when play resumed this morning was to build on their slim 33-run lead with seven wickets remaining, and some good, consistent batting by the middle order did just that.
Tom Aspinwall, who led the initial fightback on the second evening, had added 15 runs to his overnight score when he glanced Ben Aitchison down the leg side to be caught by wicketkeeper George Lavelle for 76.
Despite that early setback, Jack Blatherwick and left-handed Academy batter Harris forged a great partnership of 92 through the morning that required three replacement balls, ended when Blatherwick hit off spinner Alex Thomson to Will Rogers at long-on for 46.
Meanwhile Harris had reached his half century off 51 balls in style, hitting 6 sixes with three off spinner Thomson and three in one over from Wagstaff, the last one taking him up to 50 with the Lancashire lead now 180 at lunch.
The left handed Harris was more circumspect after the break as he built a 42-run alliance with Joe Chapple before falling for 77, well caught off his own bowling by off spinner Joseph Hawkins.
Chapple and Sutton continued the good work through the afternoon with a 58-run stand for the seventh wicket until Chapple was bowled round his legs sweeping at Thomson (4-73) for 35, and Sutton next added 42 with Charlie Barnard (24) until he sliced Wagstaff high to deep backward point for 60 off 68 balls.
That was the first of the three wickets to fall for 12 runs as Derbyshire swiftly wrapped up the Lancashire innings to leave themselves 309 to win.
Wagstaff, with one six and 10 fours, made an excellent 73 as the opening pair put on 102 for the first wicket before he swept Barnard to Charlie Parkinson at deep midwicket just before the close.
Will Tarrant (34 not out) and nightwatchman Will Rogers (6 not out) reached stumps safely and will resume the hosts chase of another 192 tomorrow.
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.
Substitute: Charlie Parkinson for Josh Boyden
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.
Substitute: Sam Cliff for Pat Brown at the start of day 2.