SECOND XI REPORT: Lancashire make 254 on the opening day against SACA
Ollie Sutton made a half century as Lancashire Second XI produced an uneven batting performance to be bowled out for 254 on the opening day of their three-day friendly with The South Asian Cricket Academy at Rochdale Cricket Club. SACA had reached 100-2 by the close to trail by 154 runs.
After Harry Singh was bowled second ball by Arafat Bhuiyan, Kesh Fonseka and George Bell advanced the score to 43 when Fonseka edged Bhuiyan to first slip for 14.
Bell got a leading edge off Daaryoush Ahmed that flew to Hishaam Khan at cover for 29 followed by Arav Shetty trapped lbw for 21 by a nip-backer from Ahmed.
Tom Aspinwall made 15 until bowled reverse sweeping at former Middlesex left arm spinner Thilan Walallwita who next bowled Jack Carney playing from the crease for 9 to leave Lancashire struggling on 97-6.
Sutton and Rian Maisuria staged a good recovery after lunch with a 92-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Academy batter Maisuria played a number of nice drives in hitting 6 fours in his 38 while all-rounder Sutton drove and cut effectively adding 10 fours to his one six in making 59 off 57 balls.
That six came from a straight drive off Walallwita and the spinner hit back by having Sutton caught in front of the sightscreen by Daniyal Khan running across from long-off, and the same combination accounted for Maisuria with Khan taking the catch on the long-on boundary with Lancashire 212-8.
Charlie Barnard made 21 and skipper Will Williams hit an unbeaten 27, the pair adding 30 to that score with Lancashire eventually all out on the stroke of tea for 254, Walallwita finishing with 4-63.
Atharva Prasad and Daniyal Khan replied with a good opening partnership after the break before both fell with the score on 64.
Khan was bowled by a turning delivery from Barnard for 29 and Prasad followed three balls later when edging a drive off Charlie Parkinson to wicketkeeper Bell for 31.
Hishaam Khan (10 not out) and skipper Savin Perera (26 not out) steered SACA safely to 100-2 by the close.