SECOND XI REPORT: Lancashire enjoy good day with the bat against Yorkshire
George Bell top-scored with 97 while Kesh Fonseka, Ollie Sutton and Joe Chapple all posted half-centuries as Lancashire enjoyed a good day with the bat at Headingley, reaching 402-9 after being put in by Yorkshire.
Fonseka and Harry Singh set the tone of the day with an excellent opening partnership of 63 inside 16 overs punishing anything over pitched or offline from the Yorkshire bowlers.
After Singh departed for 26 after edging behind off Jay Singh, Bell continued his good early season form, having already made scores of 73 and 76 in the two previous matches, in a punishing alliance of 147 in 26 overs.
The pair rattled up their fifty partnership off 51 balls, Bell going to his half century off just 39 balls that included a beautifully timed pull for four off Charlie Taylor to reach lunch on 130-1.
The century partnership off 102 balls between Fonseka and Bell came at exactly the same pace as the first fifty runs as the pair continued to punish the bowling after the break.
Fonseka pulled Taylor for six to add to his 10 fours before left arm spinner Dan Moriarty struck twice, having Fonseka caught behind for 72 and Bell lbw sweeping just three short of his century.
That began a clatter of six wickets, in contrast with what had gone before, as Yorkshire hit back with Lancashire falling from 210-1 to 225-7 in 47 balls.
Singh bowled Jack Blatherwick for 1 and had Gennaro Reddy (2) taken at second slip while Moriarty (4-61) struck twice more after George Harris (5) skied a catch to deep midwicket and Will Williams was lbw for 2.
Sutton and Chapple steadied the innings with a fine partnership of 126 either side of tea. Chapple, who took 69 balls to reach his half century, struck 4 sixes and 2 fours in making 67 until lbw to Jawad Akhtar while Sutton hit 11 fours in remaining unbeaten on 67.
Rian Maisuria made 28 out of 51 for the ninth wicket in helping Sutton take Lancashire past the 400 mark before top edging a pull off Taylor in the penultimate over of the day that was well caught by Noah Kelly running back from first slip, but Lancashire can be well pleased with their efforts on the opening day.
TEAMS:
Lancashire: Harry Singh, Kesh Fonseka, George Bell (capt/wicketkeeper), Gennaro Reddy, Jack Blatherwick, George Harris, Ollie Sutton, Will Williams, Joe Chapple, Charlie Barnard, Mitch Stanley, Haider Hussain.
Lancashire changes: Charlie Barnard (injury) was replaced by Rian Maisuria at lunch on day one. Jack Blatherwick was replaced by Miller Childs at the end of day one.
Yorkshire: Noah Kelly (capt), Will Luxton, Jonny Tattersall (wicketkeeper), Harry Duke, Jawad Akhtar, Matt Milnes, Jafer Chohan, Dan Moriarty, Bradley Sylvester, Charlie Taylor, Michael Finan, Jay Singh.