SECOND XI REPORT: Lancashire edge ahead against SACA
Four wickets for Arav Shetty and an unbeaten half century by George Bell helped Lancashire restrict the advantage built by The South Asian Cricket Academy batters during day two of this three-day friendly at Rochdale C.C.
SACA had replied with a total of 364 to build a first innings lead of 110 runs with Lancashire reaching the close on 161-2 in their second innings to lead by 51 runs.
Resuming on 100-2, SACA skipper Savin Perera and Hishaam Khan added 56 runs to extend their third wicket partnership to 92 before both departed in quick succession, Khan bowled by Shetty for 37 and, three balls later, Perera caught behind by Bell off Charlie Parkinson for 49.
Wickets continued to fall steadily with Charlie Barnard bowling Ajay Khunti for 22 and Daaryoush Ahmed giving Bell another catch, this time off Shetty, for 9 to leave SACA 216-6 early in the afternoon session.
Ismail Mohammed held the innings together with nicely constructed 59 that contained one six and eight fours and his partnership of 44 with Dylan Rawal (18) had just taken SACA into the lead when Rawal’s edged drive off Shetty flew to first slip where Harry Singh held onto a sharp catch.
Shetty then picked up the important wicket of Ismail on his way to figures of 4-84 when the batter feathered an edge behind to Bell, and Ollie Sutton had Hamidullah Qadri caught at gully off a leading edge for 25 with the visitors 309-9 and 55 runs ahead.
Some big hitting by Thilan Walallwita who struck 4 sixes and 2 fours in a 46-ball innings of 54, before being last out when bowled by Barnard, and an unbeaten 15 by Arafat Bhuiyan that contained one six, quickly extended that lead into three figures.
Lancashire lost Harry Singh early in their second innings, lbw to Hishaam Khan for 1, but Kesh Fonseka and Bell made good progress with a partnership of 102 runs to wipe out the lead.
Bell reached his half century from 57 balls but Fonseka fell towards the close for 47 when nicking a cut off Walallwita to wicketkeeper Rawal.
But Bell continued to prosper, reaching stumps unbeaten on 89 off 92 balls alongside Shetty (11 not out) with Lancashire 51 runs ahead.