SECOND XI REPORT: Lancashire go close in exciting draw
Harry Singh and George Harris took Lancashire to within a whisker of pulling off a notable victory, falling just four runs short after Leeds/Bradford University had set a target of 168 runs off 28 overs.
With Singh making 79 of those runs from 76 balls that target was always in range, especially when the Red Rose opener combined in a 34-run partnership with George Bell for the second wicket, and 56 for the third with Joe Chapple.
A clatter of wickets that saw Lancashire fall from 93-2 to 109-5 left the visitors needing 59 from 46 balls but the run out of Singh at the end of the 26th over with 29 runs still required looked to have ended Lancashire’s quest.
Harris had other ideas, the left hander hitting two sixes and a four of the penultimate over from Henry Pearson (3-49) to leave 12 runs required from the last six balls.
Calum Fletcher, brought back into the attack to bowl two of the last three overs, saved the hosts by conceding just three runs from his first over and eight from his last with the valiant Harris finishing unbeaten on 34 from 22 balls but unable to get the four needed from the final delivery.
Earlier Leeds/Bradford University declared at tea on 297-7 after resuming the day on 68-3.
Charlie Dunnett, who plays for Berkshire in the Minor Counties competitions, made an excellent, unbeaten 125 adding 70 with Pearson for the fifth wicket and 103 with Stanley Brown for the sixth wicket to help set up the declaration.
Saqib Mahmood completed his second ten over stint in the match taking 2-35 and bowling Brown for 40, as he makes his way back to full fitness while Mitch Stanley picked up 2-49.
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.
Substitute: George Harris for Gennaro Reddy at the start of day 2.
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, Isaac Bepey.