SECOND XI REPORT: Lancashire edge ahead after an unbeaten half century by Aspinwall and four wickets for Blatherwick
An unbeaten 61 by Tom Aspinwall after Jack Blatherwick had taken four wickets has helped Lancashire nose ahead of Derbyshire in this four-day friendly at Repton School. After two days the visitors lead by 33 runs with seven second innings wickets left.
Blatherwick struck with the sixth ball of the day to break the 107-run partnership between Mitchell Wagstaff and Muhammed Bin Naeem when the former edged behind on his overnight score of 76.
Bin Naeem, 37 not out overnight, went on to reach his half century, adding 82 for the third wicket with Alex Thomson, before also edging behind off Ollie Sutton for 56 who then yorked former Red Rose wicketkeeper George Lavelle for 4 just before lunch.
Joe Hawkins drove Charlie Barnard to Sutton at extra cover for four when play resumed after a short shower and left arm spinner Barnard next claimed the key wicket of Thomson when the home skipper picked out Aspinwall at long on after a good innings of 87 that contained one six and 14 fours.
Derbyshire were 15 runs ahead at that point and the remaining four wickets added another 65 runs with Mitch Stanley taking a brace courtesy of two short leg catches by Kesh Fonseka to send back Ben Aitchison for 1 and Will Rogers for a duck.
Fonseka also snapped up Nicholas Potts for 32 at extra cover off Blatherwick who finished with 4-84 when he bowled Jake Green for 3 with Derbyshire 349 all out, Sam Cliffe left unbeaten on 27.
Harry Singh was lbw to Green for 19 and six balls later Fonseka lost the top of his off stump to left arm seamer Rogers for 12 as Lancashire made a faltering start to their second innings.
A partnership of 43 between George Bell and Aspinwall took the visitors to within two runs of parity when Bell was bowled for 8 by a turning delivery from leg spinner Wagstaff.
Positive batting by Aspinwall, his fifty taking just 46 balls and whose 9 fours included a reverse sweep off Wagstaff, saw Lancashire through to the close in an unbeaten partnership of 35 with Blatherwick (4 not out).
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 Cliffe for Pat Brown at the start of day 2.